Pedicab drivers in Dumaguete City will submit to the Sangguniang Panlungsod today their position paper denouncing City Ordinance No. 88 that increased their mayor's permit fee from P27 to P400, and franchise fee from P460 to P860.

The paper, a copy of which will also be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, calls for the suspension of the new rates enforced starting last January, the repeal of the ordinance and reversion to the old fees, and the refund to the drivers and operators of their paid permit and franchise fees.

Cerilo Collado of Piston-Kilusang Mayo Uno, Benedicto Credo, president of the Banilad Pedicab Operators and Drivers Association, and the KMU Labor Center in Oriental Negros headed by Ronald Ian Evidente, called the fees "exorbitant and oppressive".

The three leaders said they have started a signature campaign, and that, as of last week, more than 500 drivers had already signed the document.

About 2,500 motorcabs-for-hire, locally known as pedicabs and operated by more than 3,000 licensed drivers, a number of whom are irregulars, ply the streets of Dumaguete City. Evidente said that, if the drivers' call to suspend the ordinance pending negotiations is not heard, they will be forced to elevate their complaint to the court. He said a number of lawyers have agreed to represent them.

Credo said the ordinance was railroaded because the proponents only took the position of the president of the federation of pedicab associations, Rolly Anadon, and other leaders but not the position of the hundreds of members of the 17 associations that comprise the federation.*RG

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