Fuel prices rising – now city tricycle fares may follow

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

As tensions in the Middle East persist and oil prices soar, the Iloilo City Council on Wednesday, March 18, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance to increase tricycle fares to cushion the impact on drivers and operators.

The measure, authored by Councilor Romel Duron, seeks to amend the city’s existing ordinances on tricycle-for-hire rates.

The proposal has been referred to the transportation committee for further deliberation.

Tricycles are one of the most common modes of public transportation in Philippine cities and municipalities, serving as last-mile connectors for commuters traveling short distances from main roads to residential areas, schools, and markets.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said Wednesday that discussions with transport stakeholders are underway.

She said a meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, with the tricycle operators and drivers’ associations, the Transportation and Traffic Management Office, and members of the City Council.

The mayor said the dialogue aims to review the proposed fare adjustments in relation to the current ordinance and rising fuel costs affecting drivers.

The city government is also considering expanding its fuel subsidy program to include taxi operators and drivers, in addition to the jeepney and tricycle sectors.

“In the case of the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay, we are targeting to include them in the second batch of the [fuel subsidy program],” she said.

“We will also review their guidelines since most of the drivers are from the province, but their franchise is for Iloilo City,” she added.

Under the city’s fuel subsidy program, jeepney drivers and operators receive PHP 1,500 in monthly fuel assistance through their cooperatives.

Tricycle drivers and operators receive PHP 500 monthly.

The fuel subsidy program was launched by the city government to cushion the impact of rising petroleum prices on the public transport sector amid global supply disruptions triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have driven gasoline prices up for nine consecutive weeks and diesel for 11 straight weeks.

On Wednesday, Treñas-Chu met with transport stakeholders to finalize guidelines for distributing fuel subsidy coupons.

She reiterated that the subsidy is limited to legitimate Iloilo City-based operators.

She said jeepneys must be included in the validated master list of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

She added that tricycle operators must have a franchise from the Sangguniang Panlungsod and a Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office.

Applicants must be city residents and present a voter’s certificate as proof, along with a valid driver’s license or franchise.

The city government set a March 23 deadline for submitting requirements for the first batch of beneficiaries.

Distribution of fuel subsidy coupons will be conducted at district-level sites to improve accessibility for drivers.