But MVF suspends its implementation
AFTER its inclusion in an ordinance for renewal of tricycle permits, Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas advised the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) to temporarily suspend the requirement of health certificates for tricycle drivers as he reasoned that the affected parties are complaining of the new requirement. The health certificate requirement, though included in an ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, has not yet been included in the requirements set forth by the CTO in the renewal of tricycle permits. “Daytoy iti problema ita ta sada lang agkolekta ta nakalagip da without proper information dissemination to the people involved. Masapul kuma nga nainformaran kuma nga immune dagitoy traysikelan sakbay nga agkolekta ta siyempre makigtot ken mapagolpiyan diay tao,” Fariñas said. The mayor added that he was also not informed about the matter and he stressed that he also has the right to know what is happening, being the city mayor. “I might be accused of politicizing [the issue]. That is farthest from my mind. I hope that you agree with me nga anya man a banag ket narigat met no biglaem a singiren diay tao,” the mayor furthered. He also clarified that the tricycle drivers had not asked for the removal of the health certificate requirement and that they only expressed surprise in the sudden inclusion of the requirement. The mayor also mentioned that the tricycle drivers who have secured health permits would be considered for tax credits for next year. Meanwhile, acting city treasurer Elena Asuncion said she is accepting the mayor’s advise as she announced that the health certificate requirement would not be implemented this year but it should be expected to be fully implemented next year. The health certificate fee costs P140. Aside from the health certificate requirement, tricycle drivers also has a pending problem with regards to the fare increase fees totaling P310 before they can charge the new fare rate. The said fees however, which were not collected during the last fare adjustment, had been doubled for this year’s round of fare increase. As a result, the tricycle groups have appealed to the city council for the suspension of the fare increase as they decided to stick to the current fare rate of P7. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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