General Santos City Councilor Jose Edmar Yumang. (File photo courtesy of the City Council)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The City Council is pushing for the deferment of the franchise charges and other fees this year to ease the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic tricycle drivers and operators.
City Councilor Jose Edmar Yumang said Friday the move would waive tricycle franchise charges and fees amounting to PHP2,000.
He said the sector is severely affected by the extended lockdowns by the local government last year as part of the community quarantine measures against the disease.
A series of public consultations would be held next week with tricycle drivers, operators, and other sectors regarding the move.
“This is a much-needed relief for our tricycle operators and drivers who are facing difficulty raising the needed fees to renew their franchises,” Yumang told reporters.
He said they are also looking at waiving the fees for the issuance of the Motorized Operator’s Permit or MTOP and the environmental fee.
Last year, the city government also provided temporary relief to local businesses and real property owners by giving discounts in charges and fees while giving them more time to settle their obligations.
The city council’s transportation committee earlier estimated that around 42,000 tricycles are plying the city’s 26 barangays, but only 7,441 of these have franchises. (PNA)
