In Manta, $ 0.40 is already charged for the urban bus ticket

Manta, Manabi

They were surprised when they were told that the passage was incomplete. It was no longer $ 0.30. This is because since this Saturday, October 30, the increase in urban transport passage in Manta, a town of Manabí, became effective.

Thus, users already pay $ 0.40 for the passage in mass public transport. The measure came into effect after the Municipality approved this increase of 10 cents in the second and final instance.

Some of the 181 units that are part of the Federation of Urban Transport of Manta (Fetum) already had, on the windshields or inside their units, signs that indicated that now the fare is $ 0.40 per user and $ 0.20 for students, seniors and people with disabilities.

Melquiades Arteaga, resident of the Los Esteros parish, was struck by the increase in the cost of the urban bus.

“I had read in the press that it had already increased, but I thought that this increase would occur after the holiday, not at the beginning. There is nothing left to pay, ”said Arteaga.

Those who had to explain why the increase, as well as listen to the annoyance of some users, were the bus drivers.

Fabián Salazar, who was driving a bus on line 14, which runs along the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí route to the Monterrey citadel, in the neighboring Montecristi canton, acknowledged that some passengers were unaware of the increase.

“Some paid the 30 cents that was the fare that was charged until yesterday (Friday 29), we have understood that, but the fare is now 40 cents, which is minimal the increase, but something helps with expensive fuel and spare parts that are going through the roof ”, according to Salazar.

In Manta it was unknown what day the ticket would begin to be charged at $ 0.40 cents. That is why the annoyances arose.

Not even the Fetum leadership knew until the afternoon of Friday 29, as they had not yet been notified of the increase approved by the Municipality of Manta.

However, on the same Friday night through its social media accounts, Fetum reported the increase.

Agustín Intriago, mayor of Manta, had announced that on Friday 29 he would pronounce on the day on which the collection of the new ticket would begin, but that did not happen. (I)