The Cost of Change
By Mary Antoinette Magallanes
Marlon Tejero, a motorela driver for 15 years now, prepares for his daily toil around Cagayan de Oro’s busy streets. However, before he starts his motorela, he first attached a laminated letter-sized placard in his vehicle – a placard that will probably change his day.
On the other hand, Deanne Antoniette Yecyec, a student of Xavier University and a resident of Barangay Nazareth, happened to catch sight of the same placard on her way to school. After reading such, she was eased for instead of getting P6 for her fare, she kept the extra peso for she only needed P5.
Recently a new fare matrix for motorized caretelas or motorelas was implemented in the city – a change that Marlon and Deanne will have to meet in their everyday lives now. However, will this be an advantage or disadvantage for them? Will this seemingly small amount affect them? Will this affect you?
Actual matrix
According to Section 1 of City Ordinance No. 11670-2010, “the Privilege Fare Rate of Motorela in Cagayan de Oro City shall automatically be fixed based on the prevailing local pump prices of the gasoline effective on April 1, 2010.”
The Ordinance, which was enacted since March 2010, states that if the price of premium gasoline per liter falls between P56-65, the regular fare would be P7 while the fare for high school and college students, senior citizens, and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) would be P6. Elementary students, on the other hand, are to pay P3.
If the price of gasoline per liter falls between P40-55, the regular fare is P6. On the other hand, the fare for high school and college students, senior citizens, and PWD’s would be P5 while elementary students are charged with P3.
If the price falls between P26-39, the regular fare would be P5, the fare for high school and college students, senior citizens, and PWD’s would be P4 and the fare for elementary pupils will still be the same at P2.
Currently, the prevailing retail prices of petroleum products in Mindanao falls under the P40-55 per liter price bracket; thus, regular commuters are to pay only P6, students, senior citizens and PWD’s are to pay P5 while elementary students with P2 only.
In response to mandate of the said Ordinance, the Committee on Public Utilities, Task Force Hapsay Dalan and the City Information Office directly issued a public announcement on December 1, 2014, with regards to the implementation of the new Fare Matrix.
“Nag release mi ug advisory ani, nag advice mi sa media, in fact, diri sa Motorela Licensing Division among giignan nga mag-distribute ug katong fare matrix,” says Atty. Edgardo Uy, chairperson of the Hapsay Dalan Task Force.
However, although advantageous to the commuters, it is also stressed in the notice that the said ordinance also mandates that the driver cannot collect the specified fare without the Fare Matrix issued by the Motorela Licensing Division of Cagayan de Oro posted inside their motorela vehicles.
“Naa may nanguha ug [fare matrix], pero ang question kung gipangbutang ba sad nila,” Uy added.
Understanding ordinances
Basically, an ordinance is an authoritative law, rule or regulation passed by a city government disparate from laws created by the state, province or national government, just like City Ordinance No. 11670-2010.
This Ordinance, entitled “An Ordinance Providing and Approving the automatic fare adjustment of motorela based on the prevailing local price of gasoline at the rates provided herein, and for other purposes”, is an amendment to Ordinance No. 11512-2009 which was of the same nature but did not include the Privilege Fare in of students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Thus, the City council saw the need to amend the law.
Just like any other ordinance, Ordinance 11670-2010 has also gone through the five parts of the local legislative process in crafting and implementing an ordinance.
The preliminary step is the filing of Bills which should contain the Title, Preamble, Whereas, Principles, Clause, Text, Substance, and Date of Effectivity of the bylaw. This will be followed by First Reading or the referral to the appropriate government committee.
Committee hearings and the Second Reading will then be next phase of the process which will highlight the deliberation, substitution or consolidation, period of debate, making of amendments and the approval of the ordinance. After such are the final votation, approval and distribution in printed form. The assigned offices will then be tasked to implement the said ordinance.
On the other hand, penalties for violating the law are also stipulated in the written decree. As for the Fare Matrix ordinance, drivers who are caught overcharging are to face a penalty of P500. Furthermore, motorela drivers are required to post tariffs inside their vehicles which they can acquire from the City’s Motorela Licensing Division. Failure to acquire such will be subject to the same penalty fee.
Lack of awareness
Despite the issuance of the public announcement for more than a month ago, many motorela drivers and commuters are still unaware of the fare rollback. Tejano only knew about the fare rollback just about two weeks ago.
“Bag-o ra man [ko nakabalo] kay bag-o ra man nag ingon akong amo [operator], mga two weeks [ago],” says Tejano.
Even though some motorela drivers are unaware of this ordinance, Yecyec shared that whenever she paid only P5, most drivers would just accept it. However, there were instances when she paid a bill but her change is often cut short be a peso.
The unawareness of this regulation wasn’t only present on the side of the motorela drivers but also on the part of the commuters. In fact, it was only recently that few other students knew about the latest fare price.
The Hapsay Dalan Task Force, along with other implementing offices of the ordinance, is continuing to publicize the said fare matrix in the city through printed notices and media announcements.
The impact of a peso
As a student who often goes home within the day, Yecyec shared that even just one single peso of savings can help in lessening her everyday expenses.
“Siyempre, nalipay [ko] kay mabawasan ang bayaran sa plete especially kay ga-uli uli baya ko. So dako gyud kay nga hinabang,” she said.
However, the rollback does not presume advantageous to everyone.
“Maayo man sa uban nga katong nag-tubil ug dako,” says Tejero sharing the impact of the fare rollback to motorela drivers like him, “pero sa amo [motorela drivers], dako kaayo ug epekto.”
Tejero explains that every day, a motorela consumes more or less 4 liters of gasoline. With the price rollback, they were able to save P8 for the cost of the gasoline they use; however, the P8-saving does not compensate the greater loss in their everyday earnings.
“Mao ra nay wa mahibaw-i sa uban. Kung paubusan pud ang pamilite, dako kaayo ug nakuha. Sa minimum nga 200 ka pasahero ang among kwaon sa isa ka adlaw, kwaan to tagsa-tagsa ug piso, P200 na,” shares Tejero.
Juggling his family needs and other financial responsibilities, Tejero says that it is really hard making both ends meet.
“200 kabuok among pangitaon sa isa ka adlaw kay para maka-abang mi, maka-tubil ug maka-dala mi samong pamilya,” he added with a hint of dismay.
***
There are two sides of a coin – a one peso coin for that matter. For Deanne, the rollback was an advantage and an additional opportunity for saving. However, for a motorela driver like Marlon, the one peso rollback became a weigh down and a challenge to face in his every day endeavor.
Either way, no matter how seemingly trivial one peso may be, it is important for the people to be aware and be empowered with information. More than knowing the rollbacks, price brackets and fare matrix, the people should yearn to acquaint themselves more with other laws, regulations and ordinances of the government especially those that affect them – that affect you.
References:
“Drivers ordered to implement fare adjustment”, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2014/12/02/drivers-ordered-implement-fare-adjustment-379890
“City government reduces motorela fare”, http://tsadagyud.com/2014/12/04/city-government-reduces-motorela-fare/
“Mga motorela driver gipahimangnoan sa P6 nga plite”, http://50.28.66.108/superbalita-cagayan-de-oro/balita/2014/11/26/mga-motorela-driver-gipahimangnoan-sa-p6-nga-plite-3787
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-city-ordinance.htm
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ordinance
