Vigan City opens complaint desk vs erring tricycle drivers, operators
VIGAN CITY – The city government has set up a help desk where commuters can lodge their complaints against abusive tricycle drivers and operators.
The complaint desk, established by the Public Safety and Traffic Management Office, is located at the Vigan City Hall Legislative Building. It also has a dedicated hotline number, 0917-103-2784, for easier access.
Briana Fenis, a student, and Glenn de Peralta, a tour guide, welcomed the initiative.
“Maraming tricycle driver na namimili ng pasahero. Di ka pa nakasakay ay tatanungin kung magkano ang ibabayad mo kahit meron namang ordinansa kung magkano lang dapat ang pamasahe. May iba naman na hindi nagbibigay ng sukli lalo na sa mga turista, grabe kung singilin nila (A lot of tricycle drivers selectively pick passengers. They ask how much you'll pay even if there is already a fare guide. Others don't give change, especially to tourists)," she said in an interview on Thursday.
De Peralta confirmed this, saying some tricycle drivers take advantage of visitors by not following the standard fare set by the city government.
"The city’s initiative to address these concerns is a welcome step in ensuring that tricycle services remain reliable, trustworthy, and beneficial to all," he said.
The establishment of a complaint desk to address issues of overcharging and to improve customer service is among the provisions under City Ordinance 24-55, which enacts the Vigan City Tricycle Management Code.
"I hope this will help address all concerns regarding our tricycle drivers for the safety and protection of commuters, as well as for tricycle drivers to defend themselves," Councilor Glendale Benzon said in an earlier interview.
Vigan City, a key tourist destination in the Ilocos region, has 3,488 tricycles grouped under 42 tricycle operators and drivers associations. (PNA)