MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 24 April) – The city council approved last week a resolution granting a one-peso provisional fare increase for motorela units operating in the city.
In a resolution introduced by Councilor Melchor Maramara on April 17, the city council, which has authority to tackle local fare hikes, approved the new motorela fare matrix after the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on transportation and communication held a public hearing on the matter.
The regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had previously increased the fare for Multicabs, jeepneys and buses.
The city’s motorela drivers and operators’ associations cited during the public hearing “unending increase of fuel prices as well as other concerns, which affect the daily operations of motorela units.
” The committee asked the associations to submit a written request for the fare hike before the public hearing.
The committee has involved the participation of the Gawad Kabuhayan Motorela Drivers/Operators Association (Gkab-MODA), Malaybalay City Motorela Association (MCMA), the Landing Kubayan Motorela Operators and Drivers Association (Lakumoda), and the Malaybalay City Motorela Operators and Drivers Cooperative (MCMODCO).
The resolution cited that after their review, the committee found that “because of the current fuel prices, the net income (of motorela drivers and operators) was not enough to support a family.”
But the city council noted that it can recall the provisional fare increase through appropriate legislation after another round of review.
Councilor Bob Roberto Casanova, who chairs the committee, was not around during the April 17 session. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)