AMID the impending fare increase among public utility jeepney (PUJs) in Western Visayas, it is a bad timing for fastcraft and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) operators to also implement an increase in the sea transportation sector.
Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, said yesterday, June 25, the class opening signals the start of the lean season for the sea transport sector as the volume of passengers during this time normally drops.
"If the volume drops and we increase the fare, we might lose passengers," Carbon said, adding that "such bad timing may impact negatively our operations mainly due to the stunted volume of fastcraft and RoRo passengers."
Transport groups in the regions are now waiting for the new fare matrix to be issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), for them to implement the P2.50 fare increase.
Once effective, the current jeepney fares of P6.50 for regular passengers and P5.00 for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and students will become P9.00 and P7.50, respectively.
For fastcraft vessels, the current fares from Bacolod to Iloilo and vice versa range from P200 to P350, depending on class or type of accommodation.
Sea vessel operators are also currently observing the movement of pump prices of petroleum products as a factor to decide whether, or not, to implement a fare increase.
Carbon, who is also the chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said there is now a decreasing trend on the prices of fuel, citing the huge roll back this week starting today, June 26.
He said current pump price of gasoline is at about P44 per liter, which is still acceptable.
"But once it starts to going up from P45 to P47 per liter, it is a signal that we will also compute how we can recover the increase," Carbon said, adding that "but for now, we have no plan to increase."
Also, sea vessel operators are quite apprehensive on the possibility that the downward trend on prices of petroleum products is possible until the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte in July only.
"If it increases for three every other week, it is a signal for us to think. We will wait until July as the current movement in oil prices may just be temporary amid the upcoming SONA of the president," Carbon said.
Moreover, unlike the land transport sector, sea vessels are deregulated thus, they can implement fare adjustments without the approval of any government agencies.
"Market forces and competition dictate our pricing," Carbon stressed, adding that it would be a good news for passengers as no fare increase among sea vessels would not result to "double murder" among them.
