CABANATUAN CITY – With more than 30,000 tricycle units – 20,500 franchised and over 10,000 unregistered – plying her hometown, Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara pressed for a law that will ensure their social and economic viability alongside protecting both drivers and the riding public.
House Bill No. 2799, or Magna Carta for Tricycle Drivers and Operators introduced by Vergara that has been approved in second reading received a big boost after the Senate public services committee headed by Sen. Grace Poe vowed during a hearing here Friday to have it passed before the end the 17th Congress.
“For this purpose, sisikapin nating maipasa ito bago matapos ang 17th Congress kasi may panahon pa naman kami,” Poe said after her panel approved in principle Senate Bill 1751, or the proposed Magna Carta for Tricycle Drivers and Operators that she also authored.
This city is dubbed as the “Tricycle Capital of the Philippines” having the most number of the three-wheeled motorized vehicles, one of the most convenient modes of transportation, particularly among workers and students.
Vergara’s measure sought that tricycle drivers and operators be entitled to Social Security System membership, one-stop shop for all registration requirements in all local government units, stiff penalties on law enforcers and government officials who prey on them.
The proposed measure, Vergara added, also seeks for uniformity and road worthiness of tricycle units.
“Kailangan ang mga pasaheros ay protektado,” Vergara said. She also sought for a provision of a clear roadmap for trike lanes to avoid choking main roads.
“Itong batas na ito ay hindi tinatanggal sa local government units yung supervision dapat sila yung may ugnayan pero narito rin sa batas dapat yung registration fee hindi masyadong mabigat. I think P1,000 lang tapos wala nang masyadong papeles,” Vergara stressed.
Vergara who joined Poe, Sen. Nancy Binay, officials of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office and other stakeholders said the bill seeks to protect both the drivers and the passengers.
Christopher Lee, head of the triwheels federation here, said there are about 20,500 franchised and over 10,000 unregistered units plying in this city.
He lamented that many tricycle owners fail to register their units because of “prohibitive fees” particularly the compulsory third party liability insurance which is P600 but useless on their part.
Meanwhile, under the Senate bill, staterun firms Social Security System and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will provide mandatory coverage to tricycle drivers and operators to enable them to access social security and health care benefits.
The proposed legislation also mandates local governments to establish a simplified registration process and a one-stop shop that will handle all tricycle transactions for them to operate.
The bill provides tricycle maintenance programs, vocational education on automotive mechanics to widen drivers’ skills, and alternative livelihood and skills-training programs for the sector.
It also prohibits the impounding of tricycles on minor traffic violations. “Ang tricycle drivers at operators ay inaasahang magiging mas maingat at maalam sa pagmamaneho at pagpapasada sapagkat magkakaroon ng orientation patungkol sa traffic management and rules,” Poe said.
Sen. Nancy Binay, who also attended the public hearing, said stakeholders should institute “protective measures to minimize the dangers to drivers and passengers”.
“All tricycle drivers not only in Cabanatuan but in the entire country will greatly benefit,” she said.
Poe also reminded drivers and operators that the safety of passengers is paramount.
Senate public services committee chair Sen. Grace Poe with Sen. Nancy Binay (right) and Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara before the TODAs.
