By RALPH JOHN MIJARES
ROXAS City — The city government remains “uncertain” about lowering the terminal fees at the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal for now, its economic affairs consultant said.
Carmen Andrade said the city government’s P51-million loan with the United Coconut Planters Bank for the construction of the terminal is a “big” reason why.
Three-fourths of the net income and revenues shall be used to pay off the loan, whereas the remaining will be used for operational expenses, said Andrade.
The following fees as stated in Section XI of the ordinance establishing the terminal are:
- Public Utility Buses – P100
- Public Utility Vans – P40 (for routes with a distance less than 45 kilometers) and P 80 (for routes more than 80 kilometers)
- Public Utility Jeepney – P25
- Public Mini-Buses – P90
Terminal fees are collected from public utility vehicles prior to their dispatch.
The different petitions of operators/owners of Acacia Group, Rodulfo Abella and Santiago Buyco Jr., and Hugpong Transport for the review/reduction of terminal fees were rejected by the city council in a recent regular session.
In a letter addressed to the council dated July 8, the Acacia owners said that there is a “discrepancy” of P20 between fees charged for public utility vans and Ceres Bus Liner, which has more seating capacity. Thus, they are asking to reduce fees for vans to P40.
On the other hand, Hugpong Transport wants fees to be fixed at P15 (public utility jeepney), P25 (L300 vans), and P40 (municipal buses).
According to Councilor Jose Agdalipe, chairman of the Committee on Public Utilities, it is too early to file for such petitions because of the terminal opening around a month ago.
Consultations were also held prior to the terminal’s construction last year, Agdalipe added.
But the terminal’s oversight committee might evaluate the need to reduce the fees if it finds the charges burdensome for the operators in the long-run, he said./PN
