Alleged overpriced tricycle fare has forced some parents to loiter outside Sta. Monica Elementary School, a disgusted parent aired her complained recently. The allowed tricycle fare is P12 pursuant to City Ordinance 1129 but the riding public usually give P15, without asking for excess.
A 39-year old Chen, (requested not to put her last name) a mother of four kids in Sta. Monica said that during this month of June 2025, she accompanied her 5-year old child who is a kinder pupil. She waited outside the classroom until 10:45am or 11am to save money, just like what other parents are doing outside the school. But since July 2025, her medical conditions made it difficult for her to loiter in school, so she need to set aside P100 daily for the tricycle fare alone.
“Syempre mga kapwa ko nanay, nagtitipid. hindi lang naman sa malapit nakatira, yung nasa malapit, umuuwi. Syempre yung mga taga Bunkhouse pa, ang iba taga Employees (Village) malayo sa school. Ang pamasahe sa tricycle P20 sa akin lang, balikan P40, paghatid P20 sa akin, P10 sa bata, pagsundo ganun din P30, eh di P100 lahat pamasahe lang. Kaya mas pipiliin nila na magtambay nalang doon sa school,” she explained.
Chen alleged that this is the scene outside the school from Mondays to Fridays that parents, mostly mothers loiter outside the school to wait for their child. Later, she realized that by doing so, she was unable to perform her household chores.
“Ang mga nanay nasa labas ng school nakatambay, naghihintay. Ang iba mayroon pang baby. Kahit puntahan po ninyo sa elementary school makikita mo. Hindi lang 20, hindi lang 30 marami pa. Nung ako ay nakatambay pa sa school, para maghintay ng kelan maglabas mga estudyante, wala akong nagagawa. Hindi makalaba, hindi makapag-saing, hindi makaluto ng ulam. Pagdating ng bahay pasado alas 11, tsaka palang maghugas, magsaing at magluto ng ulam. Anong oras na makakain?” Chen asked.
A 10-year old Grade 4 pupil in Sta. Monica Elementary School, France, who live in Block 4 of Purok Employees Village said that he choose to walk from school at 12:00 oclock noon carrying his heavy knapsack because the tricycle charged him P20.
“Ako nagalakad nalang kasi siningil ako ng P20, sabi ko wag nalang. Lakad na lang ako. Grabe ngang init” he said, explaining that he choose to ensure scorching heat than to spend money without the consent from her mother, because only P10 was allotted for his fare in going to school, while P10 in going home.
The Grade IV pupil further said that his father who worked in the government, accompanied him to school in going to school, but if he cannot accompany him, he will ride a tricycle.
“Alam kaya ito ng gobyerno? Na naningil ang mga tricycle natin ng P30? Biro mo balikan P60. Mabuti pa mga tricycle sa bayan, P15 lang talaga ang singil nila, sila yung sumusunod sa batas. Dyan sa NCCC ang singil nila P15 kasi yun naman ang minimum. Anong gamit ng pagpapaskil mo ng prankisa sa tricycle tapos ang sinisingil mo P30” Reynald said.
“Shout-out sa mga tricycle drivers P15 lang ang pamasahe ginagawa ninyong P20 at P30. Oo mahirap ang pasada at kita pero sana naman ilagay parin ninyo sa tama. kaming mga pasahero nag titipid din tapos grabi pa kayo maningil madalas nga P20 at P30 singil nyo,” an anonymous netizen posted in a social media group called web buy/ buy and sell.
52 year old Mary Jane, who requested to withheld her last name, who live in Bunkhouse in Barangay Sta. Monica said that tricycle fare are no longer just, which is sometimes higher than the cost of their transaction in the nearby talipapa.
“Ang budget ko pambiling ulam P100. Pagpunta palang ng talipapa P30, balikan P60. Tapos bumili ako ng dalawang balot ng gulay pinakbet P20, sibuyas bawang paminta P20 para lang mapagkasya ang P40. Biro mo, mas malaki pa ang pinamasahe ko na P60, kaysa sa mga pinambili ko sa talipapa na P40 lang”, she said.
