Commuters in Dagupan City may soon see changes in tricycle fares after city officials and transport groups held a public hearing on a proposal to update Dagupan’s decade-old fare matrix.

Students and daily commuters like Charmaine Calaguin said the current fare system takes a toll on their daily budget.

“Kung kaya naman ng mga estudyante na malakad, syempre po ‘yung time ng mga estudyante tas mainit. Kung malapit lang po, aabot ng 30 pesos or 50 pesos. Malaking bawas po ‘yun sa baon ng mga estudyante,” she said.

Under the existing 2012 fare matrix, tricycle fares range from P10 to P20 for the first two kilometers, with an additional P10 for every exceeding kilometer. However, commuters said some drivers charge higher than what’s allowed.

“Ang taas maningil ng tricycle. Kaya ang passenger, nagku-complain sa amin bakit ganito ang singil eh wala po kaming magawa kasi nga ‘yung fare matrix natin, way back 2012 pa,” Dagupan City Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) Chief Arvin Decano said.

Decano added that the outdated matrix no longer reflects the current fuel prices.

“I think ‘yung gasolina rito is around 30 pesos or 25 pesos up,” he said.

He assured that once the new fare matrix is finalized, the city government will enforce it strictly.

“Pag oras na nagawa na ‘yang fare matrix na ‘yan, diyan na tayo maghihigpit. Isang tawag lang, gagawa tayo ng sticker, nandoon ‘yung number namin,” Decano said.

Authorities said violators of the updated fare rates may face penalties once the new system takes effect.