DAVAO CITY (November 3)– Public safety first, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded local government executives to impose the ban of tricycles and pedicabs from plying national highways “utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kilometers per hour.”
DILG officer-in-charge, Secretary Eduardo M. Año said city and municipal mayors should move towards regulating tricycles and pedicabs on national highways.
“Allowing them on main thoroughfares poses hazards to other motor vehicles, the riding public, and even to the drivers themselves. Regulating them is to the best interest of everyone,” he added.
He said vehicles may only be allowed by concerned Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) or Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) to traverse main highways if there is no other alternative route.
Under the Local Government Code, city and municipal mayors, through their respective Sanggunians, are authorized to regulate the operation of tricycles within their territorial jurisdiction, subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Transportation.
He also urged local authorities to strictly adhere to the standards and guidelines provided by Memorandum Circular 2007-01, which contains the basic considerations in the preparation of city or municipal tricycle and pedicab franchise and regulatory ordinance or code.
The guideline includes the banning of tricycle and pedicab operations along national highways; prohibiting said vehicles to carry more passengers and goods than what they are designed for, or more than what is authorized in the franchise, among others.- Jiann Padillo/ NewsLine
