Bataan tricycle drivers seek 50% fare hike amid rising fuel costs

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ORANI, Bataan — More than 2,000 tricycle drivers in Orani and nearby towns have asked the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) to approve a 50 percent increase in regular fares amid rising fuel prices.

Marvin Dela Cruz, chair of the municipal council committee on transportation, said during a public hearing Monday (March 23) that presidents of the Orani Bataan Federation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators Associations (OBFTDA) agreed to the temporary adjustment, subject to approval by the provincial board.

Dela Cruz said drivers have reported declining earnings, adding they are no longer making enough to support their families. He noted that while a tricycle should earn about P1,000 to P1,500 daily, rising fuel costs have cut income to around P500 to P700 per day.

READ: Diesel prices seen hitting P130-P140/liter

The proposed 50 percent fare increase is temporary and still requires approval from the provincial board.

Meanwhile, the Bataan provincial government met on Monday to discuss the use of solar energy as part of efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Jopet Inton, president of Bataan Baseco Joint Venture, also urged the adoption of electric vehicles and the establishment of charging stations in strategic locations across the province. /mcm