The tricycle operators and drivers in Davao City have formally petitioned to Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and the Sangguniang Panlungsod a fare rate increase, citing unsustainable operating costs due to surging fuel prices.
In an urgent petition dated March 3, the Tricycle Alliance of Davao City said the current minimum fare of P10 for the first kilometer unchanged since May 2020 is no longer viable amid rising inflation and fuel costs.
The groups noted that gasoline prices have climbed to around P91.69 per liter following a recent big-time fuel hike on March 17, 2026, marking a roughly 140-percent increase from the P38.00 per liter price when the current fare was set.
They added that cumulative inflation has already exceeded 28 percent over the same period, further eroding drivers’ earnings.
“Tricycle sector in Davao City currently holds the distinction of having the lowest fare rates in the Philippines, yet faces operating costs that have tripled, leaving drivers with a daily take-home pay that often falls below the poverty threshold after fuel and ‘boundary’ expenses,” the petition read.
Unlike larger public utility vehicles, the group stressed that tricycles operate on shorter routes where fuel consumption per passenger is higher, making the existing P1 rate for succeeding kilometers “mathematically unsustainable” under current fuel prices.
The alliance is proposing a new fare structure, including a P20 minimum fare for the first kilometer and an additional P5 for each succeeding kilometer.
They also committed to continue granting the mandated 20-percent discount for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and students.
“We further pledge to professionalize our ranks, ensure all units are properly registered with the CTTMO, and eliminate the practice of ‘haggling’ or ‘contracting’ by strictly adhering to this new, fair, and transparent official fare matrix once approved,” the group stated.
The petitioners urged the city council to act on their request during a regular session on Tuesday, warning that thousands of drivers and their families are at risk if current fare rates remain unchanged.
