Kabankalan fare dispute injures tricycle driver, passenger

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — A tricycle driver and a passenger were hurt after a heated argument over fare ended in a physical fight at a public market in Barangay 1, Kabankalan City, on Friday.

Police Lt. Nolly Gudaca, deputy chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said the female passenger flagged down a tricycle bound for the market.

Gudaca said that upon reaching the area, the female driver asked the passenger to add PHP 5 to the existing PHP 12 fare.

The disagreement escalated into a confrontation, and both women ended up hurting each other.

Police officers pacified them and brought them to the station, where they reached a settlement.

Gudaca said no formal complaint was filed over the incident.

He added that the tricycle driver may still face an offense involving unauthorized fare collection, which falls under the jurisdiction of the traffic office.

Gudaca said the incident may have been triggered by mounting concern over fuel price hikes linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The fare dispute came as transport operators across the country grappled with rising oil prices and uncertainty over provisional fare adjustments.

Earlier, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved a provisional fare increase for jeepneys, buses, transport network vehicle services and taxis.

However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later ordered the postponement of planned fare hikes, citing global uncertainties tied to the continuing conflict.

Bus fares retained

Meanwhile, Vallacar Transit Inc. retained its existing bus fares following the suspension of the fare adjustment.

The company announced on March 16 that it would implement a fare adjustment across its bus routes because of rising fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East.

“In compliance with this directive, as of March 19, 2026, our branch continues to operate at the previous fare rates with no increased implemented,” VTI said in a statement.

Passengers who traveled from March 14 to March 18, 2026, may have briefly encountered provisional fares.

The bus firm thanked passengers for their understanding and continued trust in its services.

“Our commitment is to provide safe, reliable, and comfortable journeys every time you ride, ensuring you reach your destination with ease and peace of mind,” it said.

VTI serves routes across the Negros Island Region, including Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Cebu, among others.

No fuel hoarding

Mayor Greg Gasataya has deployed inspection teams to resume monitoring fuel prices and supplies in the city, reviving an initiative first launched last week amid rising fuel costs.

The City Treasurer’s Office reported that gasoline stations implemented price hikes in line with Department of Energy-issued rates.

As of March 16, city monitoring showed no hoarding in Bacolod.

Lawyer Marty Go, secretary to the mayor, said only the Department of Energy has the authority to issue violations and cease-and-desist orders.

“The authority of our inspection team is to check its prices and inventory. As to the penalty and issuance of cease-and-desist order (CDO) or any violations, only the DOE has the authority to do so.”

He added that a gasoline station manager’s refusal to allow monitoring would raise suspicion and be reported directly to the DOE for verification.

The teams are checking current retail prices of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas, as well as actual fuel inventories, compliance with vehicle purchase limits, when applicable, and signs of hoarding.

City Hall said the inspections resumed after a March 13 memorandum ordering the deployment of fuel monitoring and inspection teams.

Peaceful transport strike

The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region reported a generally peaceful transport strike, with no major crime incidents recorded across the region.

Police said a protest rally was held at the North Bound Terminal in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, where demonstrators opposed oil price hikes and the Oil Deregulation Law.

Authorities estimated the crowd at 35 people.

The activity ended without any untoward incident, reflecting what police described as an orderly and controlled protest.

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, said the peaceful outcome of the transport strike reflected the professionalism of their personnel and the cooperation of the community.

“We remain steadfast in ensuring public safety while respecting the right to peaceful assembly,” he added.

The regional office deployed 1,278 personnel, including 170 Civil Disturbance Management personnel, 10 drone operators, 214 police visibility personnel, 338 patrol units, 70 traffic assistance personnel and 477 checkpoint and border control teams.

Police also used 84 vehicles for security and safety operations.

Another 71 vehicles were dispatched for “Libreng Sakay” to assist affected commuters.