MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday authorized the release of P134.4 million to about 900,000 tricycle operators nationwide as part of the government’s “Pantawid Pasada” program for the public transport sector.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the fund was given out to 16 DILG regional offices, which were tasked with coordinating with the local government units in the orderly distribution of the fuel subsidy to registered tricycle operators.
A total of 896,024 tricycle owners will receive a one-time subsidy of P150 each as contained in Executive Order No. 32 signed by President Aquino.
The program was intended to help operators and drivers of public utility vehicles cope with the sky-rocketing prices of fuel.
“While there was a slight decrease of oil prices this week … this subsidy would spell a big difference to our tricycle franchise owners who just rely on daily boundary earnings to support their family,” Robredo declared.
“It shall be the responsibility of the (local government units) concerned to strictly implement the provisions of the executive order and rules and regulations relative to the tricycle subsidy program,” he added.
According to Robredo, towns in Central Luzon will receive the highest allocation, with P33 million of the fund going to 221,392 tricycle operators in the region.
The Calabarzon, on the other hand, will get close to P28 million for 189,316 tricycle owners in the area, while their counterparts in Metro Manila will receive almost P15 million.
Robredo urged the LGUs to “provide counterpart funding in order to help tricycle franchise owners bear the brunt of rising fuel costs.”
In Congress, Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco yesterday urged other cities in the country to replicate Quezon City’s example of fielding electrically powered and solar-assisted e-tricycles as an environment-friendly alternative to gas-powered tricycles.
Haresco made the statement after witnessing the turnover of the first units of e-tricycles developed by Technostrat Corp. to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.
He said he was convinced that the e-tricycle, or e-trike, would contribute to the reduction of air and noise pollution in Metro Manila and other urban areas in the country.
The e-trike is carbon-emission free, and because its engine is powered by batteries, it is quiet and contributes zero noise pollution. It can carry up to six passengers comfortably and safely.
Haresco said many other LGUs had signified interest in helping tricycle drivers and operators acquire e-trikes.
“It represents a possible reinvention of the tricycle operator’s business model. This represents valuable savings for the tricycle operator, who in face of constantly rising oil and gas prices is seeing his income get smaller every day,” he said.
Haresco said the savings of P100-P150 per day would be valuable to the operator and his family. Reports from Marlon Ramos and Cynthia D. Balana