ILOILO City – The city government is holding off on approving a proposed tricycle fare increase as it fast-tracks the rollout of fuel subsidies to cushion drivers from surging oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The proposed fare hike remains under review, with officials emphasizing that regulatory procedures must be completed before any adjustment is implemented.
At the same time, authorities have begun validating beneficiaries for a fuel subsidy program, with initial distribution expected as early as next week.
“We are still looking into this. There are processes that need to be done,” said Uldarico Garbanzos, head of the Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO).
“There are still procedures to complete. We will review this together with the Committee on Transportation,” he added.
Garbanzos said the proposal is being evaluated jointly with the Iloilo City Council’s Committee on Transportation, noting that any fare adjustment must comply with Regulation Ordinance 2022-032.
“Based on the ordinance, the tricycle fare may increase to P20 once the price of gasoline goes beyond P80 per liter,” he said.
The proposed amendment has already passed first reading in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
While deliberations continue, the city government is prioritizing direct assistance to drivers and operators through a fuel subsidy program.
“We are gradually validating the requirements submitted by drivers and operators to ensure they are qualified for the fuel subsidy,” Garbanzos said.
“Possibly by next week, we can start the initial distribution of fuel subsidy coupons so they can avail of the assistance,” he added.
To ensure proper implementation, the city government will enforce strict monitoring measures to prevent abuse of the subsidy system.
“We will assign personnel at authorized gas stations per district to check the plate numbers of units and verify whether they truly belong to the transport cooperative,” he explained.
Garbanzos added: “We are anticipating that some may use different plate numbers, but we have safeguards in place. We are implementing stickering, and we can verify through the official registration documents (OR/CR).”
Qualified beneficiaries must present a valid Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit (MTOP) issued by the Business Permit and Licensing Office, along with a franchise approved by the Iloilo City Council.
The measures come as fuel prices continue to rise amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Garbanzos stressed that while discussions on fare adjustments are ongoing, immediate government intervention is focused on easing the burden on the transport sector.
“These initiatives are being done to help our transport sector cope with the rising prices of petroleum products,” he said.
In a related development, the city government has outlined the guidelines for distributing fuel subsidy coupons to local public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.
Mayor Raisa Treñas recently gathered leaders of various transport groups to brief them on the mechanics of the subsidy program funded by the Iloilo City Government.
The assistance will be limited to drivers operating within Iloilo City. Each registered jeepney unit will receive a fuel subsidy coupon based on the validated master list of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), with distribution to be coordinated through their respective transport cooperatives.
Treñas explained that tricycle drivers must also meet specific requirements to qualify for the subsidy. These include holding a valid franchise issued by the city council, securing a Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit (MTOP) from the Business Permit and Licensing Office, and proving that they are residents of Iloilo City.
The city government has set March 23, 2026 as the deadline for submitting the required documents for the first batch of beneficiaries. Once applications are verified, subsidy coupons will be released to eligible drivers.
To make the distribution process easier, Treñas said the city plans to release the coupons in designated sites across the city’s districts so drivers can access the assistance more conveniently./PN