THE Municipal Council of Kalibo in Aklan has recommended to the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 the proposed "design" for tricycles plying the street of Kalibo.

The proposal allows four passengers onboard a tricycle.

Kalibo Councilor Matt Aaron Guzman, who chairs the Municipal Council transportation committee, said the approval of the provincial task force is needed for the implementation of the design.

The town of Kalibo is among the municipalities in the country that use tricycles as primary means of transportation. Hundreds of tricycles for hire ply Kalibo's streets in a daily basis.

"We have been receiving clamor from the operators if they could be allowed for a fare hike because they are only allowed to carry two passengers at a time. If the design we presented will be approved, tricycle operators would be allowed to carry four passengers each time," Guzman said.

Before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, each tricycle unit could carry at least seven passengers. Regular fare rate was pegged P9 in Poblacion. The rates vary in different barangays of Kalibo.

The design presented by Guzman puts emphasis on plastic barriers installed in the tricycle.

"If approved, we also hope that it would be duplicated as model by the different towns in Aklan. This will be a big economic boost to our drivers," Guzman said. (SunStar Philippines)