'Kuliglig' ordinance in Manila slammed

MANILA, Philippines - A group of tricycle and pedicab drivers on Monday said a Manila City ordinance which sets guidelines for the sector's operations will effectively legalize extortion.

Fernando Picorro, spokesperson of tri-wheel drivers’ association Alyansa ng mga Nagkakaisang Pedicab at Kuliglig, said the Manila Tri-wheel Vehicle Ordinance will eventually "kill" their livelihood.

"These fees are nothing else but legal extortion. They want to extort money from us with these fees when we can barely earn enough for our families,"Picorro said.

Members of the group on Monday staged simultaneous noise barrage in various areas in the city to oppose the implementation of the local measure, which establishes the guidelines for the operation and registration of tricycles and pedicabs in the city.

The drivers gathered on protest points in Bustillos in Samploc, UN Avenue and near the Tondo Hospital in Tecson St. Tondo.

The Monday protest also condemned an incident last Thursday when operatives of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau dispersed the stationing tricycles near the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Quiapo, Manila. A driver identified as Allan Taha Usman, 23, was shot in the thigh when he tried to prevent his tricycle from being towed.

Towing fee amounts to P1,500, besides other penalty fees a driver has to pay whenever they were dispersed and got their vehicles impounded.

"It is clear that the ordinance will only be a burden to us with its new fees and taxes. We are already burdened with the 12-percent value added tax on oil, we are already burdened by extortions, and still they want to reduce further our small earnings," Picorro said.