By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
Laoag City—To cope with current economic demands, Laoag councilor Jason Bader Perera has introduced a measure to increase tricycle fare in this city from PHP11 to PHP13.
The proposal also includes the same increase for calesa.
Mr. Perera introduced the proposal during the council’s outreach session at Brgy. Casili, this city, for first reading and was later referred to the committees on laws, rules and regulations, and transportation.
In October 2019, concerned stakeholders filed a petition to increase tricycle fares in the city to PHP15.
The last fare increase in the city was enacted on April 13, 2011.
Mr. Perera said he deemed the fare increase as “proper to cope up with the demands of tricycle drivers and operators”.
“Ta no kitkitaen tayo, iti presyo iti maysa a sardinas idi 2011ket PHP12 laeng ket itan PHP18 iti kalakaanen dayta iti maysa a pakakitaan a ngimmato aminen iti magat-gatang ket kasta met dagitipartes iti lugluganen karaman nan iti gasolina,” Mr. Perera said.
However, instead of the earlier PHP15 proposal, Mr. Perera said the current proposal of PHP13 will both benefit the tricycle drivers and operators, and the riding public.
He added that the proposal also calls for an additional PHP2 per kilometer after the first kilometer/
He also stressed that the 20% discount for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will remain. Graduate school students and pre-school pupils, however are not included in the said discount.
Mr. Perera also pointed out that the proposal also carries penalties for overcharging and failure to display the official fare guide in a conspicuous place inside the tricycle cabin. The penalty is PHP1,500 fine for violating these.
Groups of tricycle and calesa drivers and operators thanked Mr. Perera for championing their petition to raise fare in the city.
They emphasized that the city has not raised fares while the province’s other city—Batac— and other neighboring municipalities have already increased tricycle fares.
“Dakkel a banag iti pamilya mi no maaprubaran daytoy a gakat gapu ta nangina met amin a magat-gatangen kangrunaan na pay iti gasolinan ket ditoy Laoag’en iti kalakaan iti platen kumpara iti karkarruba nga ili,” the group said.
However, the riding public in a random interview also questioned the fare increase saying, “saan metla nga dagita drivers/operators ti adda pamilya na no di ket dakami pay a pasaheros iti makarikna iti pinang-ngina amin a magatang. Ngem uray no kasta saan laket nga tay nangato unay umanamung kami met latta basta isardeng da la ketdi dagita ag overcharging kangrunaan nan may-maysa ka nga aglugan padoble da pay nukwa,” they added.
The Ilocos Timeslearned that the council will conduct a public hearing for further discussion and study.