THE Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) was commended by Mayor Isko Moreno for doing its job no matter who gets hurt, when it launched its impounding operations against abusive pedicab and tricycle drivers in the city.
Moreno said that even if it hurts him, there is a need to enforce the law and city regulations particularly those that are in keeping with the ongoing pandemic.
The MTPB headed by Dennis Viaje was lauded by Moreno after it impounded tri-wheel public utility vehicles –tricycles and pedicabs- whose drivers have been violating city rules by overcharging their passengers despite repeated warnings.
Some were also impounded for carrying several passengers in violation of physical distancing, while others had drivers who plies their routes without face masks or face shields, thus endangering the safety of the passengers.
Moreno said he used to be a pedicab driver but he never took undue advantage of his passengers and charged them only what was due.
In his report to the mayor, Viaje said the violators whose units were impounded were the subjects of complaints by passengers who said they were charged P100 or even higher, for a kilometer or two.
Viaje said the drivers are supposed to charge only P20 for the first kilometer and then P5 for every additional half kilometer as per the official rate set by the city government.
Similarly, Viaje said some were engaging in ‘contracting’ which is also not allowed under city regulations.
Moreno had repeatedly called for compassion specially during these difficult times, stressing that the passengers of pedicabs and tricycles are also poor because otherwise, they would have had vehicles of their own.
