Premium P2P buses increase fares, citing rising oil prices

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed some premium point-to-point (P2P) bus services to increase fares, as long as they do not exceed the maximum allowed by the agency.

According to a report on 24 Oras by GMA News' Saleema Refran, RRCG Transport since June 1 has been charging their passengers P20 higher than its previous fare, citing "overhead expenses incurred to the management by the continuous increase on oil products."

Froehlich Tours announced it would also be hiking its fares starting June 15, including increasing the fare for the Edsa to Manadaluyong trip from P60 to P65, and the fare for North Edsa to Makati from P75 to P95.

Aside from having to cope with rising fuel costs, Froehlich noted it had been operating on promo rates for a couple of years.

"The added fee will cater to the overhead expenses incurred due to the  continuous increases in prices of petroleum products. We have experienced an increase of more than 60 percent in fuel costs over two and a half years," Froehlich's statement read.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada reminded bus companies not to go over than the fare officially agreed upon. "Magkaka-problema po tayo if they exceed 'yung the fare granted by LTFRB. They should not go beyond what has been agreed and what has been authorized sa kanila," she said.

The LTFRB had also been asked to grant fare hikes for taxis, UV Express, jeepneys and transport network companies in line with the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law on fuel prices. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News