Motorela drivers, operators ask P1.00 hike before classes open

May 30, 2008

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Thousands of motorela drivers and operators are now requesting the City Government of Cagayan de Oro to increase their fare rates by P1.00 per passenger before the start of school year 2008-2009 this June 10.

Federation of Motorela Operators and Drivers in Cagayan de Oro (Femodco), an umbrella organization for all motorela operators and drivers associations, is now drafting their petition for this fare hike.

The fare hike by P1.00 per passenger that would make the minimum motorela fare to P6.00 actually includes the request for a full implementation of the P5.50 fare rate order that was approved last January 2006 and a P0.50 increase for this year 2008.

The request also comprises of raising the privilege fares by P1.00 or as follows: from the P4.00 for senior citizens and college students to P5.00 and from P2.00 for elementary pupils to P3.00.

Femodco president Paul Simpon said this increase is long overdue and that they hope their petition would be approved the soonest time possible preferably before the start of classes.

He said there are some 2,222 motorela drivers and some 2,000 operators more who have been struggling to make a living with the current P5.00 per passenger and the rising prices of all basic commodities.

Simpson explained that motorela driver who really goes out to the streets for some 8-10 hours may earn around P350.00 to P400.00 a day.

However, he said the following deductions have to be made out of this P350.00-P400.00/day earning: P150.00 for rental cost and P200.00 for fuel cost considering that such number of hours of plying the city streets will amount to some six liters of gasoline at around P45.00 per liter.

“So, pila nalang gyud ang mahibilin para sa atong mga drivers? Mao kung sili pa halang na kaayo,” he said over dxIF Bombo Radyo yesterday.

And for motorela operators, he added that they have to contend with the rising costs of spare parts and that even motorela tires now costs some P600.00 each and other expenses such as getting their units duly registered with City Hall among others.

Cogon-Consolacion Motorela Operators and Drivers Association president Victor Deloy said a number of motorela drivers also have to deal with the temporary suspension on the adjudication of traffic violations at the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA).

He said he himself has already paid the fees being imposed by City Hall even including those collected for the “renumbering” of their units just to get back to the city roads immediately.

Because of all these circumstances, he said motorela drivers and operators are having a hard time getting their children to enroll this school year.

City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, the chairman of the committee on public utility, said these motorela groups can submit their letter petition to his committee as early as they can so that this can be acted upon.

He said the need for consultation on this matter can be waived should majority of the committee would agree to approve this and send it to the plenary for a duly approved ordinance.

“The City Mayor will then have 10 days to act on this city ordinance (to raise the motorela minimum passenger fare rates),” he said.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro