To allow them to ply city streets "Tangkal-tangkal" drivers appeal to city government

CEBU, Philippines - Drivers of tricycles-for-cargoes, commonly known as “tangkal-tangkal,” have asked the Cebu City government to allow them to ply the city streets because of their financial problems.

At least 38 “tangkal-tangkal” drivers signed a petition letter asking the city officials to consider their situation. They brushed aside arguments of traffic authorities that they are banned from the streets because their tricycles contribute to the traffic problem.

According to them, there are tricycles transporting grocery items that are allowed by traffic authorities to operate in the city.

“It seems that we as tangkal-tangkal drivers were discriminated because to think we have the same nature of work with those other delivery tricycles,” the petition letter reads.

The City Council referred the matter to the committee on traffic management and to the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) for further comment.

Traffic authorities said these tangkal-tangkals had been allowed to ply the city streets in the past.

But they said it has been observed that this type of vehicle has been contributing to traffic problem along major streets. — (FREEMAN)