The city government has granted a 30-day extension for the renewal of mayor’s permits and payment of annual supervision fees of 1,683 tricycle franchise holders in Puerto Princesa.
Councilor Rolando Amurao said in an interview Monday that Mayor Lucilo Bayron’s signing of the City Council-approved resolution for an extension on April 12 means the City’s Tricycle Franchising Section (CTFS) can already begin processing renewals.
He said the extension was a request from the tricycle operators and drivers to the City Tricycle Franchising and Regulatory Board (CTFRB).
“Ngayon lang [natin] natanggap ‘yong approved resolution galing sa office ng ating mayor… maaari na pong magsimula ang ating franchising [section] sa pagbibigay at pag-a-asikaso ng mga renewals. Nananawagan tayo doon sa ating mga franchise holders na hindi nakapag-renew, open na po ulit ‘yong pagtanggap ng renewal ng permits ng inyong mga tricycles. Sana samantalahin na natin, isang buwan lang ito na ibinibigay na tsansa sa atin para makapag-renew po tayo ng mayor’s permit ng ating mga tricycles,” said Amurao.
Amurao explained that the number of franchise owners failed to meet the city government’s February 28 deadline because the server of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was down for a while to renew their motorcycle registrations.
LTO receipts and certificates of registration are part of the requirements of the CTFRB in renewing their mayor’s permits.
He said the grace period will also cover those who failed to beat the deadline due to lack of funds, emergencies that arose, and other reasons.
Puerto Princesa City currently has an estimated 6,250 tricycles. Of this figure, 4,000 have regular franchises, and the remaining are those granted with special permits to operate.
Administrative officer IV Rodelo M. Muñoz of the CTFS said the CTFRB conducted a meeting last March 27 to discuss the request for an extension.
“Base po doon ay nag-apruba ang ating board ng isang resolusyon na ifinorward naman sa Sangguniang Panlungsod para sa kaukulang approval nito. Inaanyayahan natin ang ating mga kasamahang tricycle operators and drivers na tayo po ay bibigyan ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng isang buwan upang makapag proseso ng mayor’s permit at makapag-bayad ng atin pong taunang supervision fee… nakasaad po doon ay isang buwan, binibilang natin ngayong April 15 to May 15 lamang ito,” said Muñoz.
Muñoz reiterated that after this extension period, the city government is going to cancel the franchises of those who will still fail to comply.
