Confusion mars Dumaguete City tricycle minimum fare rate issue
Tricycle drivers, operators and passengers are now in a quandary on what is the official minimum fare rate in Dumaguete City after an approved ordinance was returned to second reading after it was found out that the rate was not stated in the measure when submitted to the mayor for enactment.
The approved ordinance was supposedly a “marriage” of at least three proposed ordinances submitted to the City Council to resolve a motorcab’s strike when the transport sector demanded for a new fare rate due to the rising cost of fuel.
In last Wednesday’s regular session, the main authors—Councilors Manny Arbon and Antonio Remollo—withdrew their sponsorship when the already approved ordinance was recalled for second reading due to the lapses.
This prompted Councilors Nilo Sayson and Jose Victor Imbo to push for their original proposal, which set the minimum fare rate at P8 for the first kilometer and an additional P0.50 for every succeeding kilometer.
After a lengthy deliberation, the SaysonImbo measure was put to a vote with only eight Council members present, including Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling. Four councilors voted in favor of the proposal, two were against it, while one abstained.
Considering that it was an appropriation ordinance, with P50,000 allocated for the production of stickers announcing the rates, the measure was deemed “killed” for failing to get the needed majority of seven votes. Maquiling had to calendar the measure for a second reading, for the second time, during the next regular session.
With the ordinance still pending technically, the minimum fare rate for motorcabs in this city now stands at P7.50 and P0.50 for every kilometer thereafter.
Students, upon presenting their school IDs, shall pay P0.50 less than the minimum rate, while senior citizens and persons-with-disability shall enjoy a 20 percent discount or an equivalent of P6 only.
This existing measure, under Resolution No. 28, Ordinance No. 6, series of 2015, authored by Imbo himself. — Juancho R. Gallarde