THE National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Nactodap) will file a temporary restraining order before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ban on tricycles, pedicabs and motorized pedicabs on national highways and major roads.

According to Ariel Lim, Nactodap president, the immediate implementation of the ban as part of the DILG’s road-clearing operations is almost impossible since commuters that use these modes of transportation frequent places like public markets, churches and schools that are usually located along highways.

“We’re not only trying to protect our members. What about our passengers? How will students get to schools along the highways where tricycles are the only means of transportation?” Lim, in a phone interview, said in Tagalog.

In February 2020, the DILG directed local government units to strictly enforce the ban. Through Memorandum Circular 2020-036, it also called for the creation of a tricycle task force separate from the tricycle regulatory boards to come up with alternative routes.

Lim said the one month the DILG gave Nactodap members to stop plying highways is not enough, adding that they need six months to comply with the directive.

“One month is not even enough for a municipal or city council to come up and pass an ordinance on the matter. Plus, there will be hearings. All the drivers concerned, transportation organizations and business owners will also have to meet,” he said in Tagalog.

He said they were alarmed when they received news that there had been casualties during apprehensions of tricycle drivers in Mindanao, while some of their members had been forced to become habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers to avoid arrest.

But Lim clarified that the group is not against the DILG directive, it just wants more time to comply.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año had reminded the public that tricycles had long been banned on national roads under Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which was passed in 1964 yet, and prior DILG directives like Memorandum Circulars 2007-11, 2011-68 and 2020-004. (JCT)