Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Speak out: Tricycle fare in Mandaue City By Jun tariman
WHILE jeepney drivers are complying with the fare matrix set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), tricycle drivers in Mandaue City have been determining their own set of fare schedules.
When the minimum regular fare for jeepneys was P6, tricycle drivers collected the same amount from their passengers.
The official fare pegged by the Mandaue City Council for all tricycle routes in the city is below P6.
But the tricycle drivers collected at least P6 for the shortest route to as much as P8 for other routes like Barangay Tabok to the public market via the Casuntingan road.
When LTFRB granted a 50-centavo provisional increase to jeepneys, tricycle drivers, without authorization, also collected P6.50 as minimum fare.
Since Monday, tricycle drivers also implemented the P7 minimum fare set for jeepneys.
Hence, the authority that sets the official fare for tricycles-for-hire in Mandaue City is no longer the City Council but the tricycle drivers themselves.
Considering what has been practiced by tricycle drivers for years and since no arrests have been made for overcharging, legislating tricycle fare can be considered an exercise in futility.
This deprives the general riding public in the city of the fair fare.
The riding public no longer expects reprieve from the City Council because our honorable councilors have done nothing to ensure their pieces of legislation will help the poor.
In the meantime, the riding public composed of students, office workers, teachers and ordinary workers who are working for their money is allowing itself to be fooled by the tricycle drivers.
