Public hearing set for "stiffer penalties" to be imposed on trisikad violations

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council’s Committee on Laws has no objection to the proposal seeking to double the penalty from P1,000 to P2,000 against “trisikad” drivers caught operating on prohibited streets.

Before he was formally replaced as chairman of the Committee on Laws last Wednesday, Councilor Edgardo Labella was able to present his committee report on the proposal of Councilor Augustus Pe Jr.

Labella said Pe’s proposed amendatory ordinance is legal, valid and within the power of the City Council because the body is empowered to regulate the operation of tricycles within its territorial jurisdiction and grant franchises.

Although the City Council approved Labella’s committee report, the city legislators decided to conduct a public hearing on April 25 to give those affected a chance to air their sentiments.

Pe, who chairs the City Council’s Peace and Order Committee, observed that the unabated operation of pedal-operated tricycles or trisikads in the city’s streets prompted him to propose the increase of fines.

He wanted to give “more teeth” to the existing city ordinance regulating the operation of trisikads in the streets of Cebu City.

The old version of the “trisikad” ordinance provides that after the first offense, the city has the right to slice or cut off the side car and it will be forfeited in favor of the government.

However, the provision was deleted based on the proposal of Councilor Jose Daluz III who strongly believed that the provision to “slice” the trisikad for the purpose of confiscating its sidecar as a penalty, may no longer be legal and has exceeded the power given to them by the Local Government Code.

Daluz had said the law provides that the City Council is empowered only to approve ordinances imposing fines of not more than P5,000 or an imprisonment of not more than one year, or both based on the discretion of the court, for the violation of city ordinances.

Pe said in order to effectively regulate the operation of trisikads, if not to totally curtail its illegal operation, it is imperative to amend the ordinance to impose stiffer penalties.  (FREEMAN)