BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution granting Mayor Angel Alan Celino the authority to suspend the collection of the fee for a mayor’s permit among passenger tricycles here.
Celino earlier promised to the tricycle operators and drivers here that they will not be made to pay for their mayor’s permit (P260) this year.
Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas authored the resolution.
Councilor Emmanuel Billones Jr. urged tricycle operators and drivers in the city to secure or renew their mayor’s permit on or before January 20, 2013.
Section 548 of the Local Government Code authorizes the City Council — with the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all members — to grant tax exemption, incentives or reliefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries.
With this measure, “we can alleviate and support the plight of drivers and operators who utilize tricycles as their only means of livelihood,” the City Council resolution said.
Records from the Tricycle Franchising Regulatory Unit (TFRU) here showed that about 3,500 legitimate tricycles operate in this capital city.
Some 700 tricycles do not have a franchise — also called colorum — and are allowed to operate only at night, the TFRU said.
