A VILLAGE chief in Angeles City, Pampanga has underscored the need to settle the dispute between drivers of Blue Taxi and tricycles plying the barangay.
Rodelio "Tony" Mamac, Sr., chairman of Barangay Balibago, said the conflict may lead to bloodshed if it is not acted upon by barangay and city officials.
"Lahat ay gustong kumita lalo na ngayon may pandemya. Wala kaming kinakampihan kung sino ang tama o mali, ngunit tingnan din natin at pag aralang mabuti ang sitwasyon," Mamac said.
Tricycle drivers and operators are allowed to operate in Balibago because they secure franchises and regularly consult issues with village officials.
"Ang mga toda na nag-ooperate sa Balibago ay may mga prangkisa at legal na pinapayagan silang mamasada dito. Regular na may ugnayan at dumudulog sila sa barangay kung may isyu sa kanila," he said.
Blue Taxi drivers and operators, however, are not coordinating with barangay leaders and do not even have their own terminals, according to Mamac.
"Ang mga Blue taxi naman hindi namin alam kung legal silang mamasada sa lahat ng lugar sa Balibago dahil wala namang nakiki pag ugnayan sa amin. Wala silang autorisadong terminal sa Balibago at saan saan lang sila nag paparada," the village chief said.
A coordination between the drivers is important to settle the issues and prevent any untoward incidents, Mamac stressed.
"Kailangan mag karoon ng dyalogo sa Toda at Blue Taxi dito sa Barangay para malaman namin ang kasalukuyan nilang katayuan at hindi sila mag away away. Kanya, nanawagan ako, kung sinu man ang lider ng mga Blue taxi na maki pag ugnayan sa Brgy para mapayapang mapag usapan ang sigalutan nila sa Toda," he said.
The city government had issued a matrix to regulate tricycle fares, Mamac said. Tricycle drivers found violating the fare matrix "will be penalized."
"Sa Toda naman, may taripa na pina iiral and pamahalaang lungsod ng Angeles ukol sa tamang presyo ng pag singil sa pasahero. Sino man ang mag labis dito o lampas ang singil sa tinakdang bayarin ang may kaparusahan," Mamac said.
The barangay chairman appealed to trike drivers not to harm taxi drivers passing by their respective terminals and routes.
"Kung sakali, may mga Blue Taxi na makikita kayo sa mga teritoryo ninyo huwag ninyong saktan o takutin ang mga driver. Sumanguni kayo sa Barangay para mahinaun nating pag usapan ang lahat," Mamac said.