The tricycle remains to be one of the most popular transportation mode in Cabanatuan City. Photo by Armand M.Galang
CABANATUAN CITY — A measure that seeks to protect the interests and welfare of tricycle drivers and operators has hurdled the House committee on transportation.
The committee chaired by Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, approved the Magna Carta for Tricycle Drivers and Operators on Oct. 13, according to a statement from the office of Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara on Monday.
“Kabilang sa mga layunin ng panukalang batas na ito (1) ang pagtatatag ng komprehensibong mekanismo para sa tricycle operations at (2) ang pagtukoy at pagtaguyod ng mga karapatan ng bawat miyembro ng sektor na ito,” Vergara’s office explained.
House bills 2333, 2963, 3281, 4005, 4197, 4212, 4653, 5329 and 5495, and House Resolution 748 were consolidated for a substitute bill entitled “An Act Providing for a Magna Carta of Tricycles Drivers and Operators Institutionalizing Mechanisms for its Implementation, Regulation and for Other Purposes.”
They were filed by Reps. Evelina Escudero, Jumel Anthony Espino, Joy Myra Tambunting, Tyrone Agabas, Alfred Vargas, Maricel Panotes, Diego Ty, Victor Yap, Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Joey Salceda, and Rosanna Vergara.
The measure is a pet legislation of Vergara as she represents the district which includes this city that has long been dubbed as the “Tricycle Capital of the Philippines.”
Vergara said the measure provides for the creation of a One-Stop Shop Tricycle Operation Permitting Office in every local government for uniformity of operational rules as well as enrollment to Social Security System and PhilHealth for every tricycle drivers and operators.
LGUs are mandated to provide support to the tricycle sector whose members and rights were defined in the measure.
The bill also seeks an initial fund of P1 billion for the tricycle sector.
The measure, a result of a long and thorough discussion with representatives from the transportation sector by the technical working group chaired by Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato, was unanimously adopted and approved by Sarmiento’s panel, reports said.
