THE Mandaue City government now allows tricycles to accept two passengers at a time starting Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
This, after the City Council passed the ordinance authored by Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, that now allows the boarding of two passengers still subject to following imposed health protocol, during its 95th regular session on May 19.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said last week, the city’s Local Franchising Board formulated and passed a resolution to allow boarding of two passengers and reduce the fare from P25 to P20 per passenger.
He said he wanted it implemented as soon as possible after it was passed on to the council.
In another interview, Lumapas said tricycle divers have been requesting this for a long time because after they resumed operations in 2020, they have had shorter routes and could only board one passenger in one route.
They also have jeepneys and the “habal-habal” (motorcyle taxi) or Angkas to compete with, and compared to them, tricycles have a higher fare, said Lumapas.
By passing and implementing the ordinance, Lumapas said it will help the livelihood of tricycle drivers and improve their income.
Lumapas clarified that the tricycle drivers still have to comply with minimum health protocol such as social distancing.
He said the tricycle drivers can board two passengers, one in the sidecar and the other in the back ride, provided that there is a plastic barrier between the passenger and the driver.
Since the number of passengers that can board the tricycle has increased, Lumapas said the fare has also been reduced from P25 to P20 per passenger.
In 2020, tricycle drivers were allowed to travel after the community quarantine status was eased.
At that time, tricycles with a valid franchise must have a special permit to operate (SPO) to resume their operations in the city, and with new routes.
Since then, only 1,205 tricycles have obtained an SPO.
Lumapas warned the tricycle drivers, particularly those who operate without a franchise and SPO, not to operate as the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) will be strict in nabbing violators.
Anyone who knows someone who operates without the necessary permits may report him to the Team, said Lumapas. (KFD)