MANILA — Provincial bus operators warned that commuters could face fewer buses, reduced trips and longer waiting times as soaring diesel prices squeeze their operations, prompting them to ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to restore the fare increase suspended by the government.
Victory Liner, in a statement backed by the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, said the industry could no longer continue absorbing rising fuel costs while operating under regulated fares that have failed to keep pace with expenses.
Fuel now accounts for between 45% and 60% of bus companies’ operating expenses, according to the group, putting growing pressure on operators as pump prices continue to climb.
“No industry can survive when its regulated revenue is lower than the actual cost of delivering service,” the statement read.
The operators were referring to a fare adjustment approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in March but subsequently suspended by Marcos.
The group said provincial buses are also prohibited from imposing fuel surcharges despite their exposure to sharp fluctuations in pump prices.
Bus companies, it added, must simultaneously shoulder fleet modernization, maintenance and other operating expenses while potentially facing higher labor costs as wage increases are considered.
The operators stressed that they were not asking the government for financial assistance but for fares that would allow them to cover the actual cost of providing transportation.
“We are not asking the Government for ayuda. We are not asking taxpayers to carry our businesses. We are asking for a fair and sustainable fare that reflects the real cost of operating public transportation.”
They warned that prolonged financial pressure could eventually force some companies to cut trips or cease operations altogether.
They clarified, however, that their appeal should not be interpreted as a threat to stop serving commuters.
“This is a notice that operations may soon become impossible,” it said.
The group warned that the deterioration of bus companies’ finances would ultimately hurt passengers, particularly those who depend on provincial routes connecting cities and provinces.
“If responsible operators are pushed to insolvency, commuters will ultimately suffer: fewer buses, fewer trips, longer waiting times, and the loss of vital connections between cities and provinces. Thousands of drivers, conductors, mechanics, and support personnel will also face the loss of their livelihoods.”
The appeal came as diesel prices jumped by P8.82 per liter on Tuesday, further increasing the operating costs of public transport companies.
The Department of Transportation recently said authorities could reach a decision on the fare adjustment following high-level Cabinet discussions led by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
The bus operators maintained that restoring the approved fare adjustment would allow the industry to remain financially viable without shifting its operating losses to taxpayers through government subsidies.
The fare issue has taken on greater urgency as transport operators brace for continued volatility in fuel prices, with bus companies warning that prolonged financial losses could eventually undermine the availability and reliability of provincial public transportation./PN
