A pro-public utility vehicle (PUV) party-list is asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to add six more months to the validity of driver’s license and vehicle registration of tricycle and jeepney drivers.
“Undoubtedly among the worst hit by the health crisis, tricycle drivers suffered a triple whammy of impacts," PASAHERO Party-list co-founder Allan Yap said in a statement Friday, Feb. 11.
"Humina ang kanilang pasada, tumaas ang presyo ng langis pero wala silang natanggap na ayuda mula sa national government. At sa kabila nito hindi naman tumaas ang kanilang pasahe (Their chances of earning were lessened, fuel prices went up, but they didn't receive any amelioration from the national government. And despite this, tricycle fare didn't increase)," he noted.
Yap said that a six-month, one-time extension to the validity of expiring driver’s licenses and, motor registrations will “undoubtedly provide some financial relief to our struggling tricycle drivers and operators as well as jeepney drivers all over the country".
Currently, the vehicle registration is valid for one year, while Republic Act (RA) 10930 extended the validity period of driver’s licenses from five to 10 years from the previous three years for drivers with no violations.
Under the current procedures, when tricycle drivers apply for their driver’s licenses, they are required to use four-wheeled vehicles instead of a three-wheeled vehicles.
“This policy is not only a mismatch to the vehicle they will be using but also discriminates against them as they might not have access to four-wheeled vehicles and hence, find it an additional burden on their part,” Yap pointed out.
Meanwhle, Robert Nazal, the other co-founder of PASAHERO, lamented that tricycle drivers are charged for fees imposed on those using four-wheeled vehicles, which means that they are paying for a higher fee that is apt for their three-wheeled vehicle.
He said a review of the current charges for the tricycle drivers is “timely and appropriate so that a more just and fairer fee may be imposed upon them".
“Needless to say, the pandemic has affected all of us including the tricycle drivers and operators as well as jeepney drivers,” Nazal said.