Public order and safety office (POSO) chief Robert Erfe-Mejia met with the different chapter presidents of the Metro Dagupan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (MDTODA) on June 23 to explain Ordinance No. 1863-2006 or the Revised Tricycle Fare Ordinance.

According to Coun. Vlad Mata, author of the ordinance and chairman of the committee on public utilities, the new tricycle fare matrix is in response to the petition for fare increase of tricycle drivers and operators due to the continuing escalation of oil price, the cost of spare parts and other maintenance expenses.

In the new tricycle fare matrix, regular fare is P7, P15 for special hire and P28 for midnight fare for the first four-kilometer distance. For every kilometer in excess of the first 4 kilometers, an additional P2 will be charged for the regular fare and P1 for both special hire and midnight fare.

However, senior citizens and students will still enjoy the usual fare discount in compliance with R.A. 7432.

Erfe-Mejia said that a fare matrix sticker carrying the driver’s LTO license plate number and windshield sticker number will be posted on the inside front windshield of every passenger cab to be easily seen by the passenger.

He warned that non-posting and tampering of the sticker will be penalized accordingly.

Under the ordinance, unscrupulous acts of tricycle drivers, such as overcharging, refusal to convey a passenger, and non-posting of sticker will be penalized.

For the 1st offense- P500 for the owner/operator and P200 for the driver, 2nd offense- P1000 for the owner/operator and P500 for the driver while the 3rd offense is the immediate cancellation of franchise.

“It is mandatory. Whether they like it or not, they have to follow the ordinance,” Erfe-Mejia asserted.

He advised the riding public to report overcharging and discourteous tricycle drivers through the POSO hotline which can be found in the fare matrix sticker.

Aside from the city’s traffic enforcers, Erfe-Mejia said that members of the Expanded Bantay Dagupan Task Force are also on the look out for violators of the ordinance.

The ordinance was passed on joint motions of councilors Vladimir T. Mata, Luis M. Samson Jr., Ma. Librada Fe M. Reyna and Nicanor D. Aquino.

There are about 3,000 tricycles operating in the city at present. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)