Tacloban City hikes minimum fare for motorcycles-for-hire to P12

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TACLOBAN CITY — The minimum fare for motorcycles-for-hire (MCH), the main mode of transportation here, has been raised by P3. The current rate is at P9.

An ordinance enacted by the members of the City Council last September 1 was approved by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez last September 14.

Based on Ordinance No. 2022-15-03, the new fare rate will now be at P12 per first two kilometers and P2 per the succeeding kilometers.

However, a 20 percent discount should be afforded to persons with disabilities, students, and senior citizens.

A copy of a fare matrix should also be displayed on the MCH. Failure of doing it would mean a penalty of P1,000 for the operator and P500 for the driver.

The new fare rate will take effect 15 days after its publication in a local newspaper.

There are more than 1,500 licensed MCH units operating in Tacloban.

The increase of MCH rate in the city stemmed from a petition from the association of operators and drivers in the city last August.

The group, headed by its president Joseph Tangile, claimed that the rising costs of fuel and spare parts as well as the decline in passengers due to the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted them to seek a fare increase.

The last time the group demanded a fare rate increase was in July 2018. The approved fare rate at that time was at P9 per kilometer.

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