MiBus announced a package of measures to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices in Panama, which began on Friday, March 20. This increase is driven by international tensions due to the conflict in Iran, which is raising oil costs. The President of the Board of Directors and General Manager of MiBus, Carlos Sánchez Fábrega, assured that despite the adverse international scenario, public transport fares will not be increased.
One of the main strategies is to reduce routes without passengers, which currently represent 20% of total fuel consumption. Parallel routes to the metro will also be suspended to encourage the use of this system, which does not use diesel. The company will prioritize the operation of the most modern and efficient buses to achieve fuel savings of up to 10%. Additionally, the frequency of services on corridors will be reduced during the off-peak hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
These measures, to be implemented gradually starting next week, aim to offset 60% to 65% of the economic impact from the fuel price hike without compromising sensitive areas like maintenance or payroll. It is estimated that these changes could affect up to 20,000 people daily. Sánchez Fábrega asked for public understanding, explaining that every kilometer saved reduces costs without impacting users.
Furthermore, between 10% and 12% of the oldest and most fuel-inefficient fleet will be temporarily taken out of service for a period of one to two months, while fuel prices remain volatile. Metro and Metrobus fares will remain unchanged. "We are not making any fare adjustments at this time," he stated. He emphasized that public transport is a key alternative to rising fuel costs and urged citizens to leave their private vehicles at home.
The price of 95-octane gasoline will be $1.14 per liter, an increase of 20 cents, while 91-octane gasoline will cost $1.07 per liter, up 18 cents.
