QC gov’t OKs tricycle fare increase

The Quezon City government has authorized the imposition of a P1-fare increase for tricycles effective October 19.

City Ordinance No. 2575-2018, introduced by 1st District Councilor Oliviere Belmonte, was passed by the local council on September 24, 2018 and subsequently approved by Mayor Herbert Bautista.

In the four-page local order, the city government deemed the tricycle fare increase as “imperative” to help over 20,700 members of the Quezon City Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association cope with rising fuel prices.

https://twitter.com/QCPublicAffairs/status/1059664999415566336

With the fare increase, tricycle operators and drivers in Quezon City can now charge their passengers P9 for regular trips for the first kilometer and P18 for special trips for the first kilometer. Tricycle fare in the city was at P8 for regular trips and P16 for special trips prior the approval of City Ordinance No. 2575-2018.

The additional charge of P1 stays for every kilometer after the first kilometer, according to the ordinance.

Tricycle driver and operators, however, were reminded to give the 20-percent discount for of senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities.

This means that senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities should only be charged P7.20 for regular trips for the first kilometer and P.50 for every kilometer thereafter; and P14.40 for the first kilometer and P.50 for every kilometer thereafter.

Section 4 of the order provides penalty for violators, including a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of six months.

The Quezon City government cited the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law or Republic Act No. 10963, which increased excise tax of gasoline to P7 per liter, as the main factor for the tricycle fare increase.

Common price of diesel soared to P44.50; and gasoline, P53.70 in July, based on Department of Energy estimates since TRAIN law was imposed on January 1, 2018.  /kga