The drivers or operators of more than 5,500 tricycles-for-hire with valid franchise issued by the city government of Bacolod could receive P1,000 in assistance, under the Bacolod City Fuel Subsidy Program Ordinance proposed by Councilor Em Legaspi Ang.
Bacolod has a total of 5,584 tricycles-for-hire with existing franchise comprising of 110 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs), Ang said as she noted that while the national government, through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, has been giving fuel subsidy to jeepney drivers, the tricycle drivers, who are also utilizing fuel in their livelihood, were taken for granted.
“It is imperative for the City Government of Bacolod to also provide fuel subsidy to the more than 5,000 members of the Bacolod City TODAs as a measure of relief to the unprecedented increase of gasoline price in the country,” the proposed ordinance, that was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its third regular session July 20 and now up for public hearing, states.
Ang said the retail prices of gasoline soared to a record high in many countries across the world. As per data from the Department of Energy, the prevailing pump price of gasoline in Bacolod ranges from P79.30 to P86.45, compared to the P51.25 to P57.56 range, as of July 13, 2021.
She proposed that qualified tricycles for hire shall receive fuel subsidy of P1,000, through a fuel voucher that will be distributed by the City Administrator’s Office.
The Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) shall submit an official list to the City Administrator’s Office of tricycles for hire with an existing valid franchise issued by the City Government of Bacolod and are qualified to receive the fuel subsidy.
The City Administrator’s Office, in turn, shall cause the enrolment of the qualified beneficiaries with the accredited petroleum company of the City, Ang said.
She warned any beneficiary tricycle operator or driver against selling, pledging, mortgaging, or exchanging the fuel voucher or the fuel products received for any other purpose/s.
“Any driver or operator found violating this anti-fraud provision shall warrant the automatic cancellation of their tricycle franchise, without prejudice to any criminal or civil liability that may be incurred by the erring operator or driver,” Ang added./CGC
