TACLOBAN CITY - Motorcycle drivers in the cities of Tacloban and Borongan are seeking fare adjustments due to the continuous fuel price hike.
Aside from rise in fuel prices, adding up to the burden is the lack of commuters due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, according to tricycle drivers.
In this city, motorized tricycle drivers are proposing an additional PHP6 from the present fare of PHP9.
“Our petition is based on the fact that gasoline prices have been increasing week-on-week following the Ukraine invasion by Russian military forces. Gasoline prices have increased from PHP46 to PHP71 per liter, or an increase of almost 55 percent,” the Tacloban Unified Motorcab for Hire Drivers and Operators Association (TUMDOA) said in its petition sent to the city council on Friday.
The petition was signed by almost 200 members of the organization and submitted to the Tacloban city council through the transportation committee.
The association has been asking for this increase since the start of the pandemic, but this was not given attention by the local government.
The group again forwarded the request this week to the city council after a series of oil price hikes.
Aside from Tacloban, motorcycle drivers in Borongan City, in Eastern Samar province are also requesting their local government to approve their call for a fare increase.
Based on their petition, the proposal is to increase the fare by 75 percent from PHP9 to PHP15.75.
The city government approved last month a fare adjustment restoring the tricycle fare in the city to PHP9 from PHP13 due to eased travel restrictions.
“The spiraling fuel price will starve the families of the drivers and operators of this association and will gradually put to death the service industry,” Borongan City Federated Tricycle Operator/Drivers Association said in their petition.
The group from Tacloban and Borongan City are hoping that their request will be granted by their respective city governments.
Before the local government approval, a public hearing is required to be participated by commuters, drivers, operators, and other stakeholders. (PNA)