Tricycle fares going wild

TRICYCLES are the bane of everybody it seems. Especially in places where tricycles rule the public transport, like Zamboanga.

But Davao City is not spared by the avarice of these drivers who are not above demanding as much as P30 for a distance that you can walk, if you choose to. And this is not an isolated case.

Tricycle franchises it seems are franchises to abuse commuters. True, it’s the commuter’s choice if he wants to hurry and thus pay more for “pakyaw” when the tricycle is at the terminal. But these drivers have found a way to extend this privilege even when they’re mobile. They will simply say that they are on “turno” (queued), and thus will demand the “pakyaw” rate from a roadside passenger. Now who sets the “pakyaw rate” not even the city government. They themselves do so, and thus the tendency to abuse.

When a tricycle charges P30 for a distance that’s not even half a kilometer, then commuters have to raise a howl, as we are now raising a howl.

But, sad to say, tricycles exist on the fringes of laws. While the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is mandated to ensure that all vehicles are registered, no one would step forward to say it is his mandate to set the fares. Thus, on this gray area left to fester breeds the avarice that is preying on poor commuters.

Not content with their “pakyaw” and “turno” excuses to rip off commuters, tricycle drivers have never been known to rollback fares even when fares have been rolled back. The city government has to step in, and fast.

While we are at it, the LTO too must regular the maximum number of passengers that tricycles can carry. These road anarchists have been allowed to abuse the people for so long, someone has to step in and pound some sense into their thick skulls.

We’re hoping to see some action from both the LTO and the city, soon. The registration, the franchise, the fares, and yes, those “turno” system even when they’re mobile as excuses to charge more than what should be.