The City Council has approved provisional authority for a P20 base fare for tricycles, with an additional P2 for every succeeding kilometer, set to take effect Sept. 21, 2026, as the city deals with rising fuel costs and mounting complaints of passenger overcharging.
The council approved the fare resolution during its regular session Sept. 15, presided over by Vice Mayor Adam Relson Jala, based on a recommendation from the Committee on Energy, Public Utilities and Franchises, chaired by City Councilor Leonides “Edi” Borja.
Under the new fare, passengers qualified for the 20% discount — including senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities — will pay P16 for the base fare and P1.60 for each succeeding kilometer.
Following council approval, the resolution will be forwarded to the Office of the City Mayor for the signature of Mayor Jane Yap. It is scheduled to be published in a newspaper on Sept. 20 and will take effect the following day, once the publication requirement is met.
Until then, the current P15 base fare and P3 per succeeding kilometer remain in place, along with existing discounts under the current ordinance.
Borja clarified that the new fare is only provisional and could be adjusted or revoked if fuel prices decline.
In a related move, City Councilor Agustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga has pushed for the regulation of tricycle unit rental rates, citing ongoing passenger complaints about overcharging.
Gonzaga said some drivers, when investigated by the City Traffic Management Office, admitted feeling forced to charge excess fares because of the high cost of renting the units they operate.
In one case, a driver admitted to overcharging passengers because he pays P1,000 a day to rent his tricycle — an amount he said is difficult to recover, especially amid continuing fuel price increases.
Gonzaga said high rental rates could be one of the factors driving the overcharging problem among drivers.
The council referred the proposal to the Committee on Energy, Public Utilities and Franchises for further study and possible legislative action.
The fare adjustments come as the Department of Energy warned that diesel prices could rise by up to P11 per liter and gasoline by P4.50 to P5 per liter next week, driven by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The DOE said the expected hike stems from continuing regional tension that has pushed up global crude oil prices, with Energy Secretary Sharon Garin noting there is no indication the conflict will end soon.
The DOE said Dubai crude oil prices have exceeded $100 per barrel from Aug. 13 to Sept. 11.
Under the law, Dubai crude must average $80 per barrel for the suspension of the excise tax to take effect.
The department said another significant fuel price increase is expected next week if the Middle East crisis continues.