CHAPTER 1

The Problem and its Background

A. Introduction

In this study, the researchers aim to ascertain the perception of the College of

Business Education and Administration students for the 2nd semester of the academic

year 2010 to 2011 to the quality of service of tricycle operators and drivers association

(TODA) in Quezon City. This is to be done by knowing the conception of the students

through questionnaires and surveys. The results of the study may help the researchers

and the other sectors in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the New Era

TODA.

Every tricycle bears of its traits of its socially defined development. So it is that

most asset and deficiencies of the New Era Toda can be trace maybe through

organization develop because of it. Many students in the New Era University are

commuters and the members of the tricycle Toda comities are groups within their area

outside the school campus and this provides an understanding of what the problem is

and its context, scope of the study, as well as its significance. Commuting by tricycle as

advantages over their other modes of transport, both for the commuters and for society.

Although tricycle is an option to many students, a considerable number of them choose

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to use other form of transport. Many students in New Era University we also examine

the drivers potentials daily chores in terms of frequency. We conducted a survey of the

current literature in order to identify the determinants for commuting by a tricycle. For

society and for the individuals, tricycle presents a number of interesting advantages

over other modes in terms transport.

Here in the Philippines, tricycles refer to one of the primary means of

transportation. Tricycles are motorized bikes with a third wheel off to the side and a spot

for one to three passengers -- although most are meant for one to two passengers.

They're fast, cheap, sometimes scary and usually fun. There are a growing number of

individuals who ride on a tricycle just for daily trip between their work address and home

address. Tricycles are motorcycles with side cars bigger than the pedicabs, which have

the legal capacity of 5 passengers including the driver. However, due to the oil price

increase, some drivers will accept up to 10-15 passengers: squeezed in the sidecar and

the backseat of the driver, hanging at the rear or sides of the sidecar and/or sitting on

the roof top.

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There are different styles of tricycles. Some have two facing benches in the rear

and a small seat on the side. This kind is known as the Aklano style and carries nine

passengers. The Motorela version has a passenger room built around the motorbike

and has two facing benches. It also transports nine people. The prices depend on the

distance range about 7 pesos for a very short distance to 25 pesos for special, longer

trips. In the big cities like Manila, the tricycles are especially part of the transportation

services in the outer living sections. In the smaller cities and towns you can see them all

over the place. A stop on every desired place is possible.

The tricycle, a motorcycle with an attached passenger-cabin on a third wheel,

Human-powered trikes are usually powered by pedals, although some models have

hand cranks. Motorized trikes can be powered with a variety of methods, including

motorcycle engines, smaller automatic transmission scooter motors, and electric

motors. The term “tricycle” may or may not include motorized Three Wheeled Cars,

depending on local laws.

Product description as of 2005, the homely tricycle, a popular mode of public

transportation in both inner city and rural areas, accounted for 34% of total vehicular

population in the Philippines and millions of tons in carbon dioxide emissions. It also

substantially contributed to traffic congestion, accidents, and noise pollution, with levels

measured at 83-97 decibel. In the provinces, tricycle is usually overloaded due to many

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passengers like students. It usually happens during peak hours such as in the morning

and in the afternoon. Beside the Jeepney, the tricycle is the means of public transport in

the Philippines. Tricycles are even more common sight in the provinces and smaller

towns, but even in Manila you can see them in the neighborhoods.

There are growing numbers of individuals who can afford a nice motorcycle just

for the daily trip between their work-address and their home- address (or just for

pleasure in the weekend). Still, it's only a very small number of individuals who can

afford such a vehicle just for private use. Most motorcycles in the Philippines are used

for serving as a kind of taxi. Most known names for these means for transportation:

Tricycles and motor-taxi's.   Both can be seen in many different forms and length.  If

somebody asked you: what is the most popular mode of transport in the Philippines?

You would probably answer either ‘Jeepney’ or ‘Tricycle’. Most Filipinos don’t even have

to think about using Jeepneys – its part of their daily routine, a cheap way of getting

from A to B. That accounts also for tricycles, although mainly when going shorter

distances. For a foreigner coming to the Philippines, both concepts are probably fairly

new. We know motorcycles or cars, but those ‘hybrids’ we don’t have back in our home

countries.

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B. Background of the Study

Transportation is one of the most significant costs of living of people today,

especially students, workers, and other commoner. In the Philippines, there are many

types of public transport, one of these is tricycle, or often abbreviated to “trike”, the

country’s version of rickshaw. It is a motorcycle with an attached sidecar that can

accommodate four to six passengers and some cargo. The sidecar is made from the

scraps of jeepneys, another type of transport that usually seen in the main roads of the

city, but in some parts of the community are too narrow that the jeepneys cannot pass

and the tricycle is the only answer.

Now in the present day, tricycle has having a large contribution in the sector of

transportation helping other commuters to travel easy and fast to their destination. We

can see tricycles in almost every barangays and cities, offering their services. Each

Barangay have their own association of tricycle, also known as TODA or Tricycle

Operators and Drivers’ Association.

The current president of the New Era TODA is Mr. Eduardo Bautista, the Vice

President is Mr. Arnulfo Casino, the Secretary is Mr. Allan Torilla, the Treasus is Mr.

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Marcelino Montalbo, the Assistant Treasurer is Mr. Sonny Tabarangao, the Auditor is

Mr. Lorenzo Papio, and lastly, the Public Relation Officer is Mr. Robert Bocoo.

Tricycle is a motorcycle with a sidecar, which has a legal capacity of 5

passengers including the driver. However, due to the oil price increase, some drivers

will accept up to 10-15 passengers. The tricycle side cars are originally made from the

scraps used to make jeepneys after World War II. Tricycles, unlike pedicabs have a

reglated fare starting at P7.00 for the first 4km, with a small additional charge for each

additional kilometer.

Despite the physical barriers that can hamper overall transport development in

the country, the Philippines has found ways to create and integrate an extensive

transportation system that connects the over 7,000 islands that surround the

archipelago, and it has shown that through the Filipinos' ingenuity and creativity, they

have created several transport forms that are unique to the country.

The tricycle in the Philippines is no different from a motor cab. Both refer to a

motorcycle with an attached sidecar that can accommodate four maybe six passengers

and some cargo. If you’ve been to the Philippines, chances are you’ve seen a tricycle

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already. Yes, that small motorized vehicle you see plying on the streets carrying several

people clogging traffic. And not to mention, air pollution along with noise pollution.

The reasons why the array made it feel like we know the students in the wake of

New Era TODA and we have to help operators and students to become productive and

able minded enough not only for solution jobs be in dealing with the students and we

also aim to determine the attitude of operators and drivers in their chosen life we would

have made us able to help the next array of students.

Here in Philippines, when one talks about a motorcycle mounted with a sidecar,

the image of the good tricycle would immediately pop to any Filipino’s mind. The three-

wheeler is essentially a mini-version of the more popular jeepney. It’s a workhorse that

carries cargo and passengers who can easily fit narrow streets and alleyways unlike the

other bigger public transports.

These hyper-polluting engines are omnipresent in Manila. They are an

inexpensive, convenient, and a necessary part of the transportation system, but their

environmental impact must be negated. There are over 50 MM carbureted two-stroke

engines in use in Asia. In the Philippines alone there are over 1.5 MM being used in

tricycle taxis. Tricycle taxis not only provide vital transportation to Manila’s masses, they

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also provide over 1.5 MM jobs for working class Filipinos. Banning tricycle taxis would

not only paralyze transportation, but it would also mean the loss of all those jobs.

Elimination is therefore impossible, while retrofitting is a cost-effective solution. These

hyper-polluting engines are omnipresent in Manila. They are an inexpensive,

convenient, and a necessary part of the transportation system, but their environmental

impact must be negated.

Working class Filipinos are the primary users of tricycle taxis, and bear the brunt

of the disastrous emissions they leave in their wake. These people have no real choice,

given their need to get to work, go to school, etc. A cleaner tricycle taxi will not only

improve environmental conditions, but will also result in healthier and happier urban

populations.

This tricycle taxi goes slow; it seldom goes over about 30 miles per hour. These

vehicle couples up with Jeepneys have crippled the transportation in the Philippines.

Top speed for land travel in the Philippines seems to be 30 mile per hour.

In a 2003 survey conducted by ADB, it was found that 70 percent of the drivers

do not properly maintain their tricycles, which could help cut down its noise. Most

tricycle drivers are low-income earners. They only earn a daily net income of between

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P100 and P150. Tricycle-driving is a popular means of living here since it does not

require much skill.

The ADB study also found that the road network is mostly made-up of narrow

streets and is not expanding. Thus, all directions point to a future increase in demand

for tricycles, despite the hazards they pose on the streets. They clog the city streets,

slow down traffic, and are more accident-prone than cars. More than half of the tricycle

population in the city is at least 5 years old, while about 40 percent are more than 10

years old.

But there is hope for the city’s air pollution problem. In late 2005, an Air and

Noise Pollution Reduction Strategies Project was launched from a $240,000 ADB grant.

The project aims to reduce the air pollution from tricycles by the third quarter of 2006

and provide more “teeth” to the enforcement of air pollution laws. Half of the fund will go

to a Tricycle Multi-Purpose Fund where operators can upgrade their engines from two-

stroke to four-stroke engines or for other means of livelihood.

Drivers will be also be trained on the proper maintenance of their tricycles, and

the city’s enforcement and monitoring of its Clean Air Act laws will be strengthened,

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especially for roadside emission monitoring and in catching smoke belchers.

Registration of engines beyond 15 years of age will be restricted.

The grant, from the ADB’s Poverty and Environment Program (PEP), will also

tackle the environmental and the underlying social issues surrounding the tricycle

sector. The lessons learned from the project will be the basis in formulating and

replicating strategies in other Philippine cities with a similar air pollution problem.

Yue-Lang Feng, an ADB Principal Environment Specialist, warned about the

health hazards of being constantly exposed to air pollution. “Most people do not realize

that there are so many pollutants in the white smoke from tricycles. The very tiny

particulates in the smoke absorb sulfur dioxide and other volatile organic chemicals

which go into your respiratory system and to your lungs,” she told the tricycle operators

and drivers at the launch.

"Day by day, those pollutants accumulate in your lungs and finally damage your

health. It might cause asthma, it might cause respiratory disorder. Many of you might

not be aware of such health impacts."

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About a third of the total vehicle population in the country is made up of these

two- and three-wheelers, which are popularly used in both urban and rural areas. But

they remain a popular transport vehicle for residents in local government units due to

their high accessibility, availability, affordability, comfort and convenience. They are

much less expensive than other vehicles and therefore play an important role in the

country’s overall transportation system.

Commercial tricycle operations are often extended beyond their useful life so that

maintenance is often postponed. Most drivers also use excessive lubricant due to lack

of knowledge on the correct ratio or their perception that it increases fuel efficiency. The

use of adulterated gasoline with kerosene is also practiced, because of high fuel prices.

The tricycle is a Philippine transportation vehicle that rules inner roads and

alleys. Well, on second thought, it rules even highways at times. It can go from one

street corner to the next, or one town to the next, or one city to the next. There are times

when it goes from province to province. Why not, when in fact it is actually a

motorcycle? The tricycle is a Philippine transportation vehicle that is so versatile. It is

adaptable in rural and urban applications. It can serve passengers rain or shine. It can

take one to several street corners, the next town, or even the next city or province for

the right contract fare. Tricycles are known to rule even national highways.

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C. Conceptual Framework

Most of the students in CBEA are commuters and one of their modes of

transportation is riding a tricycle. To the drivers, commuters, and association’s feedback

can help justifying the strengths and eliminating the weaknesses.

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D. Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the perception of the 3rd year and 4th year

CBEA students for the 2nd semester of the academic year 2010 to 2011 to the quality of

service of tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA) in Quezon City.

Specifically, it sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the CBEA students – participants in

terms of the following:

a. Gender.

b. The frequency of riding tricycle in a week.

2. What is the evaluation of the respondents to the New Era TODA

considering the following terms:

a. Attitude of the drivers.

b. Hygiene of the drivers

c. Uniform of the drivers

d. Cleanliness of the tricycle unit

e. Physical appearance of the tricycle unit

f. Convenience while riding tricycle.

g. Safety while riding tricycle

h. Overall performance of the NETODA

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E. Null Hypothesis

Base on the gathered information with a reasonable and accurate data,

the researchers find out that there is no significant effect on the characteristics that

influence the perception of CBEA students as commuters on the quality service of New

Era Toda. The CBEA students have their own principle on what characteristics that the

New Era Toda must possess but the majority don’t really mind it as long as the service

is presented right and as long as the relationship of commuter and driver is concern.

The researcher has little been confused about the research maybe the

research is not been implemented or the reader might not be interested about the

research and ignore it because maybe they think that even though the TODA have a

bad image and because they had no choice and they ride it even though they getting

distracted because of the negative characteristics of the TODA. The research is not

much that expensive that can be threat because they might be saying that the research

have the low quality and not enough resources.

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F. Significance of the Study

This study is very essential as the use of transportation is part of cost of living.

This study hopes to benefit New Era TODA operators and drivers, commuters, and

future researchers.

The New Era TODA operators may make use this study to develop their

existing schemes and make new guidelines in their services if possible.

The New Era TODA drivers may be benefited with the result of the study in

improving the driver-commuter relationship.

The commuters may be benefited in deep-understanding the insights in the

party of the New Era TODA.

For the students, they will be the foremost beneficiaries of this research

because it entails the importance of good services of New Era TODA and might be a big

factor for their monthly allowance.

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For the School Administration, this research might make them realize that New

Era TODA will be an asset for this university that better facilities might produce better or

even excellent service which would be of good reflection of the school reputation.

Future researchers may use this study as basis in conducting future research

on quality service of tricycles and other public transport and may pave the way for its

improvement.

G. Scope and Limitations

The study focuses on discussing the assessment of the perception of students in

College of Business Education and Administration of New Era University as commuters

on the quality service of New Era Toda in terms of ergonomics, safety, and

environmental aspects of the transport. Existing standards will be use for assessment of

vehicle component.

The study is limited only to the students who ride on a tricycle in New Era TODA

in Barangay New Era, Central Avenue, Quezon City. It involves the drivers, passengers,

member of the association. The main reason why researcher study the quality service in

New Era TODA to their passengers, especially on CBEA students, is to find out its

general condition. The study was conducted using books, dictionaries, encyclopedia,

internet, and previous researches as reference of the researchers.

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H. Definition of Terms

Pedicab is a bicycle with sidecar, used for public transport in small areas and for

short distances.

Jeepneys are Public Utility Vehicles or PUVs that are very common in wide

roads and high ways in an urban area.

Tricycle is a motorbike with sidecar made up of scraps from jeepney and can

accommodate 6 to 7 persons, including the driver, and it is used for public transport in

small areas in the community for short distances.

Trike is an abbreviated, often called to the tricycle.

TODA means, Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association.

Students are those who are in the College of Business Education and

Administration.

Commuters are those who are students in the other colleges, teachers and

professors, and residences in Barangay New Era who travel regularly from one place to

another.

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Drivers are those who operate the tricycle, but they are not the owner of it.

Operators are the owner of the tricycle.

Boundary is the amount paid to the operator by the drivers.

Members composed of drivers, operators, officers, and Board of Directors of

Association.

Franchise a permit from the government from the driver must secure to allow

him to be a member of association.

Tariffs are the amount required provided by the government that they should

imposed to the commuters.

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