Provincial bus operators plying the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) Friday said they will file a petition to hike fare before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) following the approval of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to increase SLEx toll by a hefty 250-percent this June 30.

According to Homer Mercado, president of the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association (SOLUBOA), they are asking for P0.20 per kilometer for both air-conditioned and ordinary buses.

However, Mercado said that they will push through with the fare increase if the Supreme Court rejects their request for a temporary restraining order. “We will file our petition for fare after we have exhausted all legal efforts to stop the toll hike,” he said.

He added that bus and shuttle operators as well as groups of truck drivers will file their petition to stop the impending increase in the SLEx toll before the TRB on Tuesday Meanwhile, Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide asked President-elect Benigno Aquino III to review the toll increase and eventually put a stop to it right after his inauguration at the end of the month.

“The increase on toll is unfair and onerous especially since we were not consulted about this. The proposal didn’t undergo a public hearing, too; our side of the story hasn’t been heard. Even Albay governor and Mrs. Arroyo’s economic adviser Joey Salceda said there’s no basis for the increase,” he said.