Caloocan warns transport groups vs increasing fares

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri warned operators and drivers of tricycles and pedicabs plying the sidestreets of the city against unauthorized fare increases as he urged residents to report abuses to City Hall.

Echiverri advised commuters to take note of the body number of the tricycle or pedicab units demanding higher fare, the association they belong to and report them to City Hall’s Tricycle and Pedicab Regulatory Services (TPRS).

The mayor said City Hall has not authorized the tricycles and pedicabs in the city to increase their fares.

He said reports have reached his office that several tricycle and pedicab drivers now demand fares higher than those mandated by law.

Echiverri said that he is aware of the continuous oil price increases that affect the earnings of the drivers and operators, but they should also take into consideration the interest of commuters who are also burdened by the situation.

He warned abusive drivers and operators that they would be charged for violating existing local ordinances on the operation of tricycle and pedicabs in the city.

The mayor advised them to course their fare increase demand through the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) to which they belong. It is the TODA that would file the petition with the City Council.

"It is not proper for the drivers to take advantage of the crisis the country is now facing and the continuous increase in the gasoline and other petroleum products," Echiverri said.

The mayor also directed yesterday the city’s Market Division to conduct a regular price monitoring at all public markets to ensure that unscrupulous traders would not exploit consumers by unreasonably increasing prices of basic goods and commodities. – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude