Increased Q.C. Tricycle Fares Not Approved & Illegal

The oil industry is greatly affected by the Tax Reform on Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The spike in gasoline prices has not yet prompted an official fare increase from the Department of Transportation or any legitimate transportation association in Metro Manila.

However, due to the gasoline price increase, some may have been taking advantage of this situation. Like in a scenario in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City wherein a tricycle special trip fare abruptly increased from PHP50 to PHP70 since the imposition of TRAIN Law, and will further increase to PHP100 during a traffic jam.

As the biggest city in the metro, tricycle is one of the transportation vehicles plying the roads. Composed of six districts, there are 24,713 tricycle units plying the city and 150 tricycle associations.

While the driver might argue that the fare increase is due to gasoline price increase, it is not yet officially approved and technically considered illegal with violation fines.

Quezon City – Tricycle Regulatory Unit is the regulatory body of Quezon City Council on the tricycle sector. Tricycle franchise, as approved by QCC, will be granted a permit by the QC-TRU. They also monitor tricycle associations and impose penalties on erring drivers.

Upon hearing this situation, they remind the commuters that there is no fare increase in tricycle fare yet.

They also warn the drivers who will impose an illegal tricycle fare increase to its passengers, comes with a penalty. 5,000 violations fine and confiscation of driver’s license, and in the worst scenario, impound of their tricycle unit.

Per Quezon City Ordinance No. SP-2466, S-2016 or the Authorized Tricycle Fare: Regular Trip – P8.00 for the first kilometer plus P1.00 for every kilometer in excess thereof; Special Trip (single passenger) P16.00 for the first kilometer plus P1.00 for every kilometer in excess thereof regardless of seating capacity.

In addition to that, tricycle drivers should have the authorized tricycle fare posted on their tricycle units to be clearly seen by the passengers. Failure to follow this has a PHP500 penalty.

The tricycle tariff is not yet amended because according to QC-TRU Operations-in-Charge Mr. Robert M. Dela Cruz, tricycle associations are yet to file a fare increase. Upon approval of Quezon City Council.

Dela Cruz stressed that, “wala pa namang kasing nagpa-file [tricycle fare increase]. Kailangan nilang [tricycle associations] mag-file muna sa Q.C. Council tungkol sa pagtaas ng singil sa pamasahe sa tricycle. Kapag na-approve saka natin i-impose.”

Dela Cruz also added that when a passenger is asked to pay an unreasonable fare, do not pay but formally file a complaint to QC-TRU.

Accordingly, Mr. Edmund Dagdagan, QC-TRU’s Transport Regulation Officer II, echoed the same thoughts, “kung sa tingin po ninyo sobra ang siningil sa inyo, pwede niyo pong ireklamo sa amin [QC-TRU]. Mag-fill-up ng Complaint Sheet. May identification po iyan through body number ng tricycle. Kapag na-identify na po namin ang body number, ipapatawag po namin ang driver, mag-a-appear po kayo dito at positive na i-identify na siya [driver] ang naningil ng sobra. Titiketan po ang driver, at magbabayad ng 5,000.”

QC-TRU also added that they could not do anything to these erring drivers until someone complains so that they could follow standard operating procedures in stopping this illegal practice.

Clearly, there are people taking advantage of the gas price increase in the tricycle sector through the unjust fare increase. Fortunately, QC-TRU is assuring the tricycle commuters that when they file a complaint, it will be addressed properly and accordingly.

On the other hand, TN is trying to contact the Litex-Payatas Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (LIPATODA) to get their reaction on the issue but up to this writing, Ariel Flores, LIPATODA President is not answering our call and text messages.# (Ehlorra Mangahas)