Stricter regulation of tricycles pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Two councilors are pushing for a so-called Motorized Tricycle Regulatory Board (MTRB) to control and regulate the operations of tricycles for hire in Cebu City and to limit to 500 the number of tricycles to be allowed to operate here.

Councilors Augustus Pe Jr. and Jose Daluz III also proposed that the vehicles shall not be allowed to pass through national highways as provided for in an existing policy of the government.

During the regular session of the City Council yesterday, the city legislators have agreed that the proposed legislative measure will be referred to the committees on Transportation, Traffic and Laws for further study on the legality of the proposal.

The proposal is that the city shall create the MTRB to be headed by a chairman who will be appointed by the mayor, with the City Legal Officer, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and chief of the Cebu City Traffic Group, including a private sector representative as members.

The number of tricycles-for-hires that will be allowed to operate in certain routes shall be determined by the MTRB based on the area’s population and to ensure that their existence will not contribute to traffic congestion.

It is proposed that tricycles will not be allowed to park along the road so as not to obstruct the flow of traffic. To control the number of tricycles, Pe and Daluz suggested that no person shall be granted to operate more than one unit.

The permit issued to a tricycle operator shall not be transferable to another person, aside from the spouses or heirs upon the death of the permitees.

When the motorized tricycle or parts thereof is rendered no longer serviceable and already needs to be replaced, the permittee should apply for an amendment of the franchise with the board.

To avoid tricycles being parked beside the road at nightime, operators are required to provide a garage within his premises before an application for a permit is approved. – Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)