MANILA, Philippines — Starting Friday, tricycles for hire in Quezon City are allowed to charge increased fares after Mayor Herbert Bautista signed into law the adjusted fare hike on June 23.

Under the city’s new tricycle fare schedule, the riding public is charged from P7 to P8.50 for the first kilometer and an additional P1 for every succeeding kilometer on regular trips.

For special trips, tricycle fare is up from P14 to P17 and an additional P1 for every kilometer thereafter.

Many tricycle riders who will bear the brunt of another fare increase asked the city’s Tricycle Regulatory Unit (TRU) to order tricycle drivers and operators to prominently display the new fare matrix to avoid squabbles and confusion.
Quezon City has an estimated 24,000 tricycle operators.

Melchor Paclibare, a regular tricycle driver going to his office at the Social Security System on East Avenue, said he understands the plight of tricycle drivers but at the same time said that the increase should be based on government approved rates.

“We all have to share the burden of the worldwide increase in the prices of oil petroleum products but let us hope that everything should be done within the bounds of law. Displaying the fare matrix and announcement of the approved adjusted tricycle fares will minimize conflict and unwarranted arguments,’’ Paclibare added.

Before the approval of the tricycle fare increase, an ordinance was passed by the 26-member council on its third and final reading on May 30.

Principally authored by Councilor Raquel Malañgen, the ordinance was described as necessary to help cushion the impact of the increase in the prices of gasoline on the transport sector, especially tricycle operators and drivers.

In the same ordinance, Quezon City has also prescribed a new tricycle fare schedule for senior citizens, disabled persons and students, who are all entitled to a 20 percent discount.

The new tricycle fare, during regular trips, will be P6.80 centavos for the first kilometer plus P.50 centavos for every kilometer thereafter. For special trips, senior citizens, disabled persons and students will be charged P13.60 for the first kilometer plus P.50 centavos for every kilometer thereafter.