GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 July) — The city council has set a series of public consultations over a proposed P2 to P3 increase in the minimum fare of tricycles operating within the city.
City Councilor Arturo Cloma, chair of the council’s committee on transportation, said his committee will meet with various sectors in the city to determine their views and sentiments over the proposal, which will increase the current P7 minimum tricycle fare to P9 to P10.
He said they have set the initial committee hearing and consultation at the city council session hall on Tuesday.
“We will consult all concerned sectors to properly guide us in deciding whether an increase in our tricycle fares is necessary at this time and how much would be the appropriate rate,” he said.
Cloma said they invited leaders and representative of local transport groups, consumers, employees or workers, business, religious and other concerned people’s and non-government organizations.
The official said the consultation will include discussions on the city’s socio-economic condition, especially the impact of the rising prices of fuel and related inputs, motorcycle spare parts and various basic commodities.
He said they will look into the current situation of the city’s public transportation sector amidst these socio-economic issues.
Local tricycle operators and drivers earlier submitted several petitions to the city council for a legislated increase in tricycle fares in the city’s 26 barangays.
The city’s tricycle fares were last adjusted by the city government in 2008 through Ordinance No. 3.
The ordinance provided for a P1 hike in the minimum tricycle fare in the city, increasing it to P7 from the previous P6.
But in the last three years, Cloma said local tricycle operators and drivers have increased the minimum fare in the city to P8 despite the absence of an ordinance and new fare matrix from the city’s motorized transport franchising and regulatory board. (MindaNews)