The official minimum fare rates in Dumaguete City puzzled tricycle drivers, operators and passengers, when the approved fare ordinance was returned to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for second reading.

The ordinance had merged three proposed ones submitted to the SP after the one-day strike of motorcabs for hire in Dumaguete.

It was returned for second reading because it did not specify the approved minimum fare that is P8, for the first two kilometers with P1 for every additional kilometer.

In the SP session Wednesday, authors of the ordinance, Councilors Manny Arbon and Antonio Remollo, , withdrew their sponsorship. Councilors Nilo Sayson and Jose Victor Imbo reiterated their original proposal to peg the minimum at P8 for the first kilometer and an additional P.50 for every succeeding kilometer.

When put to a vote, four councilors voted in favor, two against and one abstained.

Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling declared a recess before dividing the house saying he believes the new suggested rate will be biased against the riding public.

The measure is that an appropriation ordinance and is seeking P50,000 for the production of stickers, failed to get a majority of seven votes.

As it stands, the basic fare rate for motorcabs for hire is still at P7.50, and P0.50 additional for every kilometer thereafter and students will pay P0.50 less and senior citizens and persons with disabilities will enjoy the 20 percent discount or P6 only.*JG

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