Legitimate tricycle drivers in Dagupan City have voiced frustration over the increasing number of colorum tricycles competing for passengers in the city.

Anton, a tricycle driver, said colorum drivers even line up with organized tricycle groups.

“Marami pa rin yung mga colorum kasi naka-TODA kasi tas nandito din sila. Dapat hindi sila nakapila rin sa mga TODA,” he said.

He added that these unregistered tricycles charge higher fares, which damages the reputation of legitimate drivers.

“Yun ang masakit sa amin sa mga colorum pag andito sila. Tas makikita namin nakakakuha sila ng pasahero imbes na sa amin yun,” Anton said.

Some colorum drivers, meanwhile, said the city’s franchise system is unfair.

“Kaso pag humihingi ka ng prangkisa yung binigay ay night shift naman. Pero pagdating sa umaga, huhulihin ka naman. Kaya mas maganda, mag-colorum ka na lang,” Martin, a colorum driver, said.

Dagupan City’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) chief Arvin Decano said they continue operations against colorum tricycles, catching no less than five units daily.

“Dito kasi nagkakaubusan ng prangkisa. Ang isa pang problema natin diyan, yung night shift ayaw naman nila. Kaya yung mga colorum, humanda-handa kayo magtago na lang kayo, magpasensyahan kung nahuli kayo,” Decano said.

Data shows around 2,800 tricycle drivers hold day-shift franchises, while only 100 out of 450 drivers have night-shift franchises.

On top of the issue, drivers are also struggling with the latest oil price hike effective August 26, 2025. Gasoline rose by P0.70 per liter, diesel by P0.50, and kerosene by P0.30, driven by geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Israel.