TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Residents here have urged authorities to lower down the fares of tricycles plying in this city as a result of a series of price rollbacks of petroleum products this year.
They expressed concern over tricycle fares that remained unchanged during the Christmas season, which is P8 per passenger, based on the existing city ordinance, even if gasoline prices have dropped.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said the rollback of tricycle fare should be commensurate to the rollback of gasoline prices, and a P1 drop on the fare would be enough.
A tricycle driver, who is operating his own tricycle unit as his only means of livelihood for a family of five, however said he would not agree on the slashing of fares, because the prices of petroleum products are anticipated to rise again after Christmas and New Year holidays.
The issue on tricycle fare has yet to be tackled by the City Council, while there were reports that overcharging of fares still thrives especially at the airport and seaport. Drivers charge their passenger fivefold of the regular fare, said a passenger who fell prey to this modus.
City officials and law enforcers have called on the passengers concerned to report to them the overcharging of tricycle fares, and jot down the tricycle number of the involved driver.