• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government has begun consolidating a list of registered tricycle drivers and operators to ensure their inclusion in the national government’s fuel subsidy program.
The initiative, managed through the Business Permit and Licensing Division, aims to provide a verified database to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Councilor Atty. Dindo Ramos, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Traffic, noted that while the LTFRB already maintains records for public utility jeepneys and buses, a specific request was made to the Mayor’s Office to provide data on the city’s tricycle sector.
According to Ramos, the 2025 Mayor’s Permits will serve as the primary basis for the list.
He said that only legally registered drivers and operators will be included, effectively excluding ‘colorum’ or unregistered vehicles from receiving the potential assistance.
Ramos added that the city is still awaiting official implementation guidelines from the national government.
He also expressed his support for the suspension of fare hike despite rising fuel costs, provided that there will be immediate financial assistance to the affected transport sector.
The city government is evaluating its own fiscal capacity to determine if additional local financial aid can be extended to the transport sector.*
