Mandaue drivers give nod on tricycle fare rollback

CEBU, Philippines - Tricycle drivers and operators in Mandaue City yesterday agreed on the proposed amended ordinance which reduced the minimum passenger fare for tricycles from P8 to P7.

During the public hearing, about 20 officials of the different tricycle drivers associations and operators agreed with the proposed ordinance, although a few were against the reduction.

Some of the drivers were hesitant to reduce the fare because the price of petroleum has once again increased this week and they feared that the oil price hike will continue to soar.

However, City Councilor Elstone Dabon who authored the proposed ordinance told them that if petroleum rates will continue to increase, the ordinance will once again be amended to return to the original fare.

Dabon further explained that when the city ordinance No.12-2011-611, which sets the minimum fare of tricycle in the city at P8, was approved by the City Council in 2011, the price of gasoline at that time was already more than P50.

But since the price of gasoline these days is only over P30, Dabon said the reduced fare is just reasonable.

Dabon said City Councilor Nenita Layese, chairman of the Committee on Laws, will render her committee reports containing the results of yesterday’s hearing in the council’s meeting on Wednesday.

He said the said ordinance may be approved before the month ends. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)