Mandaue City implements new guidelines for tricycles

CEBU, Philippines — Tricycle operators in Mandaue City are now allowed to carry a maximum of two passengers at a time after the City Council approved yesterday a resolution adopting an amended procedures and guidelines for tricycle operation in the city.

 The council adopted the guidelines promulgated by the city’s Tricycle-for-Hire Franchising Regulatory Board. Based on the new guidelines, each tricycle is authorized to take two passengers—one inside and one at the back of the driver. Operators are also required to install plastic barriers to ensure social distancing.

The new guidelines also reduced the special minimum fare from P25 to P20 per passenger. For over a year, the city only allowed one passenger per tricycle at P25 fare.

The amendment to the guidelines was a result of the meeting on May 14 of the members of Mandaue City Federation Operators of Tricycle Drivers Organization (MCFOTRIDO) and the city’s tricycle regulatory board following a public clamor to allow tricycles more capacity to address the lack of public transportation in the city.

Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, chairman of the committee on transportation, sponsored a resolution adopting the new guidelines promulgated by the tricycle regulatory board.

Krizzy Hyll Retuya, chief of staff of Lumapas, said the new guidelines took effect yesterday.

“Ang TEAM mopahigayon og dry run ana para pud matagaan og kahigayonan ang mga tricycle drivers sa pag butang (og) barriers sa mga tricycles,” said Retuya. —FPL (FREEMAN)