By Joseph Almer Pedrajas The local government of Caloocan City has issued a temporary fare matrix for tricycle drivers and passengers, which will take effect while the city remains under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). Ordinance No. 0870 stated that a public utility tricycle "may charge a passenger a flat rate of P15 for a distance not exceeding four kilometers and an additional P2 for every succeeding kilometer." The measure, which was enacted on May 20, added that "the total or maximum fare shall not exceed P35" and that each tricycle driver should have a copy of the fare matrix "posted conspicuously" inside his vehicle. To prevent the violation of social distancing, tricycle drivers can accept only one passenger per ride. They are also allowed to transport passengers outside the curfew hours, or from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and follow a number-coding scheme, where the days they are allowed to operate depend on their vehicles' body number. The passing of the ordinance is part of the local government's measures against the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Since tricycles are the only public transportation allowed to operate during the MECQ, the city council said, "the operation of the said utilities shall nonetheless conform with and strictly observe the existing" guidelines. Violators of the ordinance will be penalized through the impounding of their tricycles for seven days on their first offense. Impounding of tricycle or a fine of P3,000 pesos will be meted to second time violators while impounding of tricycle and a fine of P5,000 to third time offenders.