Call for public transport reforms and repositioning strategy debate

The other stakeholders being the operators and employees are a source of livelihood and wealth creation. This opinion piece shall explore some options that are available to this industry and to try and shape the debate on improving a sector that is taking more and more significance in our lives directly and indirectly.

It goes without saying that the industry should be run as a business to remain attractive for potential and existing operators. Therefore, it is the authors argument that price increases as and when they come are fair. But it is also the authors view that the pricing of public transport is too essential to be left to the machinations of free market pricing of demand and supply and the hand of government will perhaps be needed to ensure price stability. Despite recent price increases from P2.50 to P3 for combis one feels that the new found profitability has been considerably eroded by: