By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Batac
CITY—Using the oil price hike as well as the
soaring prices of motorcycle spare parts as reasons, commuters in Batac City
need to brace for additional expense as PHP3 pesos has been added from the
current Php11 basic tricycle fare.
On January 7, 2019, members
of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved an ordinance prescribing the new fare
rates for tricycle-for-hire in the city.
Early on, the Batac Tricycle
Operators and Drivers Association (BATODA) asked for PHP14 fare increase for
the first 1.5 kilometers and an additional PHP1 for
every succeeding kilometer.
Student fare is pegged at PHP12.50
for the first 1.5 kilometers plus PHP1 for every succeeding kilometer.
As prescribed by law, both
senior citizens and persons with disabilities shall continue to enjoy a 20%
discount from the regular fare provided they present their authorized
identification cards.
According to Batac City Mayor
Albert Chua, the trike increase will take effect immediately after approval of
said ordinance.
Tricycle drivers and
operators however are warned to refrain from overcharging their passengers and avoid being penalized.
Under Ordinance No. 4SP
2018-18, violators will be charged ranging from PHP200 to PHP600 and a possible
three-month suspension of Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit for the third
and succeeding offenses.
It may be recalled that on
November 22, 2018, the committee on laws of the Sangguniang Panlungsod
conducted a public consultation where tricycle drivers and operators, students
and all other concerned parties attended.
Meanwhile, tricycle drivers
in Laoag City are also asking for a PHP4 basic fare hike, which will hike rates
in Laoag City to PHP15 from the current PHP11 basic fare.
Aside from the PHP4 fare
increase, they are also asking to increase the rate after the first kilometer
to PHP2 per kilometer.
The current rate is pegged at
PHP1 per kilometer after the first kilometer.
The proposed trike fare
increase in Laoag however is currently being studied.
The Laoag city government
last increased fare rates in 2011 through city ordinance no. 2011-077, which
raised basic fare rates from PHP8 to PHP11.
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