Saturday, July 05, 2008 Trike fare in Dumaguete now P8 By Victor L. Camion
DRIVERS of the motorcab-for-hire (MCH), locally known as pedicab, in Dumaguete City are now collecting P8 minimum fare following the approval of the new fare rate.
The local Franchising and Regulatory Board in Dumaguete City on Friday approved the new rate after the City Council passed an ordinance requesting for the additional 50 centavos from the P7.50 previous minimum fare rate.
Danny Atillo, operation officer of the Traffic Management Office (TMO), told Sun.Star that effective July 4, 2008, the drivers can collect P8 fare for the first kilometer and additional 50 centavos for every succeeding kilometer.
Students upon the presentation of their identification card will enjoy the 20 percent discount.
Senior citizen and person with disabilities will also enjoy the 20 percent discount.
Meantime, some parents in Dumaguete City are complaining about the abrupt and immediate implementation of the new fare rate.
They also questioned the legality of the implementation.
Parents who requested anonymity stressed that the local franchising board should wait the approval of the Provincial Board (PB) for the new fare rate before implementing it to the riding public.
Public hearing, they said, should be part of the second reading of the proposed ordinance fixing the new rate of the minimum fare.
They said the City Council during its public hearing on new fare rate last Thursday immediately approved the third and final reading.
The TMO however defended its move.
Atillo explained that the public hearing was just formality since the city has existing ordinance, which provided the automatic increase and decrease of the minimum fare, especially if there is an abnormality in gasoline prices.
The price of gasoline, as of Friday, is P60.50 to P62 per liter.
