CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) is enjoining local government units to enact ordinances banning tricycles and pedicabs from national highways.
On Monday, DILG provincial director Myrvi A. Favia reiterated the DILG’s directive enjoining LGUs to formulate ordinances in support of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2007-01 which contains the basic considerations in the preparation of city or municipal tricycle and pedicab franchise and regulatory ordinance or code.
Favia explained that such ordinances are needed so that the memorandum can be fully implemented by the LGUs.
“We are now requesting the LGUs to support and strengthen the MC,” Favia said.
“Kasi nga patuloy natin nakikita sa mga national highways natin na marami ang aksidente involving pedicabs and tricycles (Because we continuously see on our national highways accidents involving pedicabs and tricycles),” she added citing another accident involving a tricycle in Bamban, Tarlac over the-weekend.
Citing safety reasons, the DILG reiterated that tricycles and bicycle-pedicabs are not allowed on national highways and main thoroughfares.
The DILG said no tricycle or pedicab should operate on national highways utilized by fourwheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kilometers per hour.
“While the government recognizes that some Filipinos are making a living from tricycle and pedicabs; allowing them to pass through main thoroughfares poses hazards to other motor vehicles, the riding public, and even to the drivers themselves,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“The regulation of tricycles and pedicabs on national highways is, therefore, to the best interest of everyone,” he added.
Año noted the unregulated operation of tricycles and pedicabs along main thoroughfares, which pose serious hazards to passengers, drivers, and other vehicles.
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.
