By Mark L. Garcia Bacolod City – Following an increase in fuel prices, bus and fast craft vessel companies in Negros Occidental raised their fares this week. Vallacar Transit Inc. increased its Ceres bus fare by P1 to P3 in all of its routes in Negros Occidental. The fast craft ferry company, Weesam Express, raised fares in all their Bacolod-Iloilo trips by P10 to P30. The fare hikes were implemented Monday. VTI had to raise its fares because of higher fuel prices, the company’s Legal and Media Relations Manager, Jade Seballos, said. The increase is still within the fare matrix issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Seballos said. Fuel prices have been rising since last year, she said. “The increase is not over the prescribed fare in buses,” she said. “It is due to the increase in gasoline (prices)… if there is a possibility that it will be lowered, then the fare will also be lowered,” she added. The increase depends on distance traveled. Seballos said that, for instance, the hike in fares from Bacolod City to nearby towns and cities will only be at P1, but in far areas like Hinoba-an,  it will be P2. Weesam Express charged higher fares starting Monday, its operator Frank Carbon said, following TRAIN-triggered fuel price hikes. Operators of other fast craft docking at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port are also expected to hike fare soon, he added. Carbon said they imposed a P10 fare hike for their economy or low budget seats, and P30 for tourist and business class passenger seats. He also attributed the increase to higher prices of fuel and oil products like lubricants needed by sea vessels, he said. Carbon said Weesam last adjusted is fares one and a half years ago. “We have to adjust the fare or else the current situation will hamper our operations and safety procedures,” he said. Ferry companies are deregulated in terms of imposing fare hikes, but Carbon assured that the increase will not be a big burden for their passengers. Seballos is asking for understanding from the riding public, especially students who will be burdened by the fare hike. Carbon said other fast craft companies like Ocean Jet and 2GO on the Bacolod-Iloilo routes will also increase their fares in the next days or weeks, and were just waiting for Weesam to make the first move. Cargo services, as well as fares in the roll on-roll off vessels of other companies, are also expected to increase, he said.