City Council approves tricycle ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has finally approved the ordinance regulating the operation of motorized tricycles in the city, but the ordinance provides that the city will only allow 500 units so it will not contribute to the traffic problem in secondary roads.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, the main proponent of the ordinance, said the applicant for a tricycle franchise shall not be allowed to operate more than one unit and its operation shall be confined only in the specified route.

Daluz explained that the Motorized Tricycle Regulatory Board (MTRB) would be strict in implementing the rules as provided for in the ordinance, otherwise, the violators will be dealt with accordingly.

The tricycles shall not be allowed to operate in national highways and it should not be allowed to carry passengers and goods more than its allowed capacity.

Before the MTRB will approve the application for a franchise, they should first find out whether the applicant has a garage for his or her unit so that it will not be parked on the road after its operation.

At present, hundreds of tricycles are operating in the barangays such as in Punta Princesa, Talamban, Tisa, Labangon, Basak-Cabreros, Pardo, Bulacao, Inayawan and Buhisan.

These tricycles usually cause traffic congestion because many of its drivers lack  knowledge of proper driving rules and they block the passage of other vehicles because they drive in the lanes that are provided for fast-moving vehicles.

There is a law that bans tricycles from passing through national highways but it was not properly implemented by the traffic authorities.

Daluz said the ordinance provides that violators of the ordinance shall be slapped with a fine of P2,500 for the first violation, P3,000 for the succeeding violation and P4,000 for the third violation.  (FREEMAN)