TRICYCLE

By JENETTE FARIOLA-RUEDAS, ABS-CBN Tacloban | 10/23/2008 11:30 AM

TACLOBAN CITY - Commuters here are already complaining about the lack of a fare rollback despite several price cuts on petroleum products. They were expecting a rollback to happen after the gasoline and diesel prices went down recently.

According to the Land Transportation Office in the region, a rollback has yet to be discussed on the national level. A pending request is already at the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board's national office.

The request for a fare cut is possible in the region once it is implemented in Metro Manila and as soon as a memorandum comes from the LTFRB's headquarters.

Last week, petroleum companies implemented a price rollback for diesel and gasoline products. Another round was implemented on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tricycle drivers in Tacloban have called on the national government to grant them health maintenance cards and fuel discounts since President Arroyo have promised their Metro Manila counterparts with the same benefits.

These include Philhealth cards, a P1 per liter discount from Pilipinas Shell stations and scholarships for their children.

Tacloban's tricycle drivers said they expect to receive the same kind of benefits, too.

"Dapat kung nasimulan na yan sa Manila, kami rin dito meron. Pare-pareho lang naman kaming mga tricycledrivers. Malaking tulong na ang maibibigay nito saamin dahil wala namang kasiguruhan an buhay namin sa kalsada”, Benedicto Corilla, president of United Motorcab Drivers Association, said.

According to the Philhealth office in the region, it does not have the resources yet for the drivers because the head office has not released a memorandum regarding the matter.

as of 10/23/2008 11:30 AM