The Pasig City local government inaugurated on Monday, Oct. 24, the tricycle terminal for the FHNAPICO Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) on Eastbank Road in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Congressman Roman Romulo, officials from the Tricycle Operation Regulatory Office (TORO), barangay chairmans, and TODA representatives were among those who joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the terminal.
The terminal, situated under the Ortigas Avenue bridge, is a spacious area that can accommodate multiple tricycles and is accessible for commuters.
It also includes a small office, and a comfort room with toilets and bidets for use by both drivers and passengers.
The project was headed by Congressman Roman Romulo in cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Romulo said the terminal is still a temporary settlement for the TODA since they are still looking for a permanent location.
“Gusto natin maging maayos ang mga sakayan at babaan, mga terminal sa buong lungsod Pasig (We want safe and orderly loading and unloading terminals for our commuters and drivers in Pasig City),” Sotto said.
“Hihingi po kami ng tulong lalo na sa ating TODA, at mga mananakay na sana po ma-maintain natin na maayos at malinis ang ating terminal (We ask the help of our TODAs and commuters to maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of our terminal),” he added.
Transport groups, particularly tricycle drivers and operators, were among the hardest-hit sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to City Councilor Quin Cruz, chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Mobility in the 11th city council.
The burden of rent payments on TODAs was made known to Sotto in a meeting held as early as July 2020.
Cruz said the FHNAPICO TODA pay P172,000 per month for renting their terminal, motorpool, and parking areas. Every TODA member gives P120 per day regardless if they’ve made any income in a day to cover the fees.
The same goes for BRMF TODA, and VAM TODA, who pay more than P50,000 per month.
At the time, the transport groups asked Sotto for a tax discount on the lots used to rent the terminals.
Following their request, the local government sought long-term solutions to alleviate the TODAs rental debts.
In March 2021, an ocular visit of the proposed terminal station was set with Romulo, city councilors, barangay chairmans, and presidents of the FHNAPICO TODA, BRMF TODA, and VAM TODA.
The FHNAPICO TODA will no longer pay any rental fees for the new Eastbank Road terminal.
However, the TODA will shoulder the expenses for water and electricity, and other maintenance fees in the terminal.