OPINION | Tricycle Fares: A Bane for Students

Remember that moment after a long day at school when you're eager to head home? You rush through the hallways as the school bell chimes rippling across the four corners of every classroom, rucksack heavy on your shoulders, footsteps quick with anticipation, ever so ready to bring an end to the day. At the gate, you stand by the roadside, waiting for a ride. A tricycle pulls up, and you tell the driver your destination. As you settle in for a swift ride home, everything is as normal as it seems—until you arrive and the driver asks for the fare.

"HA? KWARENTA KOL?" your mouth drops to the floor, even more so when the driver retorts with "Taga-UM bitaw ka, kwartahan man mo." leaving you in utter disbelief.

While the situation above is illustrated dramatically—it is, as a matter of fact, a recent encounter of a student attending University. It is important to note that this depiction reflects a real issue several others may have come across recently, most especially students who have previously dealt with drivers as such.

This is the alarming cases of tricycle drivers rife among day-to-day encounters of students who were not spared by their avaricious intent. Tricycle drivers often exploit their position, charging P40 to P50 for short distances of less than half a kilometer—an increasingly common tactic employed among commuters. This becomes particularly frustrating for students who, in under any circumstance of haste, find themselves backed up on one corner by tricycle drivers taking advantage of their urgent need for transportation.

While it is a given fact that tricycles exist upon fringes of laws, just as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is mandated to ensure all vehicles are registered, the malicious use of these drivers’ given privilege is simply not a valid justification of their exploitations toward commuters. A similar incident occured on March 18, 2024, where the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) issued a warning to Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers about the consequences of overcharging passengers. CTTMO Head Dionisio Abude emphasized that drivers of both motorized tricycles for hire (MTH) and pedal-operated vehicles must adhere to the minimum fare rate of Php 10 for the first four kilometers. This alert followed a social media complaint about an MTH driver who overcharged and failed to deliver a passenger to the agreed destination. The driver was reprimanded and instructed to follow proper fare rates. Abude encouraged passengers to report any fare violations to ensure compliance with transport regulations.

Despite all this commotion, it is still imperative that we weigh the sides on both perspectives to understand the root cause of the problem. To further widen the walls of our knowledge on the situation, one could view the dilemma from a bird’s-eye perspective. Taking a huge leap back, it is without denial that inflation rates have drastically skyrocketed these recent times, and continues to do so up until now. Hence, the P5 increase from the previous P10 minimum fare, now placed at P15. This economic strain is one of the considerable factors that possibly drove tricycle drivers to resort to such extremities, driven by the harsh reality of the unspoken struggles to make ends meet, all the while attempting to keep one's work in the noble path. This is the bitter truth and the root cause of all problems—poverty.

To address the current issue effectively, we must look for a different angle and explore various solutions to reach a resolution. To minimize the potential for future conflicts, tricycle drivers should display placards indicating the minimum fare, similar to the practice observed among jeepney drivers. This will ensure passengers are informed of the required fare in advance. Additionally, commuters should seek clarification on the fare before accepting a lift. It is also essential that both commuters and drivers establish an agreement prior to commencing the journey to prevent disputes.

Overall, it is vital to remain adaptable and informed in the face of impending challenges to enhance future preventive measures. We must note that exploitation arises once given enough room to persist. Maintaining an open mind and speaking out are crucial; neutrality can inadvertently permit issues to escalate. Nevertheless, it is important to address such matters with firmness while remaining considerate; Speak up, but never in a harsh tone. Be stern, but never unkind.