Trike owners may renew franchises and special permits until February 28 without penalty

2,088 out of 6,500 tricycle units in the city have already renewed their franchises and special permits as of Tuesday afternoon.

Maria Theresa Rodriguez, chief of Business Permit and Licensing Office Regulatory Enforcement Monitoring Unit (BPLO-REMU), in an interview with the media said the renewal of franchises and special permits started February 3.

“Kukuha sila ng form, pipirmahan nila ‘yon, ipapa-encode nila, then magbabayad sila for step two, then after [ang] step three kukuha na sila ng sticker dito sa business permit and licensing. Siyempre bago nila makuha ang sticker sa business permit and licensing, kailangan muna nilang ipa-check ‘yong kanilang mga requirements kung sila ba ay nakabayad ng OR nila, kung sila ba ay nakakuha ng kanilang kopya ng OR, CR, kung may trike clearance sila para sa doon kanilang mga utang, kung may city traffic clearance sila at may sedula sila at siyempre ang barangay clearance hindi ‘yon mawawala,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez stated the city has 4,000 tricycle units with franchises, of which 1,581 have already renewed.

She also added there are 2,500 tricycle units with special permits in the city, of which 507 have already accomplished their renewal.

Rodriguez said renewal of tricycle franchises and special permits until February 28 is yet without penalty.

Rodriguez further stated a franchise is only a privilege from the city government and if its condition has been violated through non-renewal, the franchise can be cancelled and awarded to others.

“Ang franchise is only a privilege, this is not a right. So kapag nag-violate sila ng condition ng franchise, it can be cancelled. So kapag na-kansela ‘yan, puwedeng i-award ‘yan sa iba. Message natin doon sa mga drivers, operators, owners, ng mga tricycels, kung maari po ay mag-renew na kayo ng mga prangkisa at nang makakuha kayo ng mga bagong sticker,” said Rodriguez.