Gripes up vs Bontoc trike drivers; operators warned franchise renewal up Dec 31

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Complaints against tricycle drivers mounted here like refusal to transport passengers, collecting more than minimum fare and not giving  20 percent  discount to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
    This, as the Bontoc local government urged tricycle operators to renew their franchise as early as possible to prevent inconvenience since renewal of Motorized Tricycle Operators Permit (MTOP) will only be until Dec. 31, 2021. 
    Municipal ordinance 300, s. 2018, mandated the Bontoc Municipal Tricycle Franchising Regulatory Board (BMTFRB) to issue franchises to tricycles for to operate as public transport.
    The ordinance stipulated renewal of MTOP for next succeeding year, shall be done at any time prior to date of its expiration.
    A grace period of up to last day of January following expiration of franchise shall be extended for late renewal.
    However, the tricycle operator has to pay the penalty or fine of P2, 000. 
    After expiration of grace period, all MTOPs which had not been renewed shall be subject to cancellation and shall be made available to qualified applicants. 
    According to Marilyn Aquino, secretariat of the BMTFRB, 681 tricycle units were issued franchise now plying the municipality. 
    Aquino urged tricycle operators to bring with documents for renewal of their MTOP.
    These include barangay clearance, Land Transportation Office (LTO) official receipt (OR) or certificate of registration (CR); latest original copy of MTOP and photo of the tricycle parked at its respective parking space.
    Aquino added the photo of the tricycle must be taken with front, back, left, and right views and printed in legal size bond paper. 
    She added application for registration/ renewal must be filed by the operator or any individual of legal age who shall be given a Special Power of Attorney to transact by the operator. 
    For further inquiries on the renewal of MTOP, tricycle operators were advised to visit the Office of the Municipal Mayor through the BMTFRB. 
    She said tricycle operators and drivers fare matrix should be hanged conspicuously inside the tricycle with minimum fare in delineated points.
    The regular fare is P9 while fare for the senior citizens, students, and person with disability (PWDs) is P7. 
    BMTFRB officials said it welcomed complaints, suggestions or queries of the public concerning tricycle drivers and operators.  
     “Everyone is welcome to visit the Office of the Municipal Mayor to report her/his complaints regarding tricycle driver and operator so that we can immediately call the concerned individuals. In this way, both parties are present, complaints will be addressed, and such incident will be avoided,” Aquino said.  

She said before a tricycle operator is given a franchise, they are made to understand the Municipal Transport and Traffic Code of Bontoc on traffic rules and regulations, duties and responsibilities of the drivers and operators.