Manila authorities encourage passengers to report fare violators

April 18, 2024

PANTODA Tricycle drivers travel along Padre Noval Street to reach their terminal at the corner where Dapitan and Alfonso Mendoza Street intersect. (Photo by Keonna Atienza/The Manila Warden) 

A Manila City Hall official urged passengers to insist on their right to complain when overcharged by three-wheeled public utility vehicles (PUVs) on April 12. 

Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) director Dennis Viaje said that City Ordinance 8979 sets the standard fare for tri-wheeled vehicles operating within the jurisdiction of the City of Manila, ensuring fair charges for all passengers. 

“Pagka kayo po ay ino-overcharging, you have the right na kumuha kayo ng complain. Then, kunin niyo rin ‘yung body number, picturan lang po ninyo [...] Then once na nagfile po kayo ng complaint samin, i-print out niyo lang po yung kinunan ninyo, pakukunan ko sa inyo yung tricycle, papaimpound ko,” he stated. 

Under the fare matrix, the base price for the first kilometer of a trip is P16, and an additional P5 is charged per half kilometer.  

Violators of the city ordinance will be penalized, including a minimum fine of P1,000 with the issuance of an Ordinance Violation Receipt.  

Severe penalties include impoundable charge violations for overcharging and cancellation of permit, accreditation, and franchise, as stated in MTPB’s Fines and Penalties, and Section 104-C of Ordinance No. 8092. 

“All the complaints ng overcharging, pinakukunan ko sa mga operatives ko, then ilalagay sa impounding and then dadalhin ang driver dito. So, kakausapin namin sila. Now, if the complaint is legit, confirmed naman, that's the time na if-fine namin sila ng P1000,” Viaje said. 

Hannah Baniqued, a resident in Recto who commutes with e-trikes and tricycles, lamented that her fare varies from driver to driver and the drop-off location.  

“Depende rin sa sinusukli kasi ‘yung ibang drivers, hindi nagsusukli ng with student discount [...] For e-trike, P20 commonly ang minimum pero if medyo malayo mga P30-50. Pag special naman mga P100-200. Depende kasi if special mahal ng mga x3. Pag normal, mura pero need mapuno before umalis. For trike, ito super mahal, minimum na ata ang P50 kahit sobrang lapit lang pero pag malayo mga P120-250,” she said. 

“[Sa] E-trikes po is yes, reasonable pa yung price. Pero if tricycle, almost all na nasakyan [ko,] for me is not justifiable yung price, wala lang talaga choice,” she added, when asked if the fare is reasonable. 

Baniqued stated that the fare matrix in three-wheeled PUVs is not noticeable as it is commonly hidden or printed in small texts.  

The fare matrix is mandated to be posted inside the vehicles. However, only a few tricycle drivers display their copy, a violation of the ordinance, according to Viaje. 

Drivers’ Woes 

Meanwhile, tricycle drivers continued to defend themselves, stating that they adhere to the fare matrix established by the City Hall. 

Ricky De Leon, a 40-year-old tricycle driver in Padre Noval Street, said that they follow the provided matrix and that most passengers are aware of the rates around the city. 

Drivers also faced unfair competition against colorum tricycles, or vehicles without permit.  

“Yung sa City Hall naman, pag nahuli, tinutubos kaagad nila [colorum drivers], nag papatubos dun P1,500. Tapos kinabukasan b-byahe ulit sila. [...] Nagbabayad kami sa gobyerno kami rin ang nalulugi talaga. Pag nahuli ka, bigyan mo muna ng isang linggo bago mo makuha yung tricycle para makapagkuha ng permit po,” Allan, a PANTODA tricycle driver in Padre Noval stated.  

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Regulation No. 24-002 Series of 2024 on prohibiting tricycles, pushcarts or kariton, pedicabs, kuligligs, e-bikes, e-trikes, and light electric vehicles on passing by national, circumferential, and radial roads was implemented on April 15. 

“Hindi bale ano lang, mababawasan dahil syempre ang layo ng iikutan gawa ng napakamahal na krudo. Imbes na kakapiraso nalang yung iikutan, iikot ka pa sa mga tamang dadaanan,” Ricky said when asked if the new regulation will affect their income. 

A map of national roads prohibited for tri-wheeled PUVs according to the memo of MMDA within the City of Manila (Map by Keonna Atienza/The Manila Warden)

“Wala po tayong magagawa po kasi National na po yung pag uutos. Ang ating Bureau, LG (local government), at LTO (Land Transportation Office) na nagsasabi they are not allowed in the national road” [...] walang nagbabawal sa inyo na gumamit ng tricycle/e-bike, wag lang national,” Viaje answered when asked if this is worrisome for possible overcharging cases

. 

The following are exemptions from the regulation: a tricycle traveling less than 500 meters on covered roads to access U-turn slots for crossing or vehicles detected and must cross to reach the opposite side divided by covered roads.

The Electric Vehicle Industry Act, light electric vehicles that make use of bike lanes are free from prohibition.  

Penalties include a P2,500 fine, while impounding those without licenses and car registration documents.

- Keonna Mikaela Atienza & Hyacinth Kate Villanueva