THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao recommended to the local government units (LGU) of Davao del Norte to regulate the tricycles and pedicabs from plying the national highways as part of their road safety campaign.
PRO-Davao Director Manuel Gaerlan on Tuesday, July 11, told reporters during the Biz Talk at Big 8 Corporate Hotel that they suggested to the local executives to strictly enforce the policy banning the tricycles and pedicabs from traversing along national roads.
"The Mayors are in-charge of the regulation of the operations of tricycles and pedicabs in their area of responsibility," he said.
He also said the policy has already existed as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a Memo Circular 2007-01 in 2007 that seeks to ban these vehicles to operate "on national highways utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kilometers per hour."
"Ang objective naman po natin dito is to improve the quality of life ng mamayan para po sa kabutihan ng lahat na dapat walang road hazards, walang maaksidente at dapat safe parin (The objective of this move is to improve the quality of life of people, which is no road hazards and accident-free road)," Gaerlan said.
However, it was also stated in the memo that the LGU officials can only allow the operation of tricycles along national highways if there is no other alternative route present in their cities and municipalities.
Gaerlan has committed that they will help the LGUs in implementing the policy.
"I have initiated the enforcement of road discipline. Ang sinasabi ko nga (All I am saying is) if we would enforce our rules and regulations particularly on traffic, magkakaroon ng (we will have) good driving habits ang bawat isa including the pedestrians," Gerlan said, adding that if the citizens are following the law, it would eventually create and well-disciplined community.
Likewise, the chief said the local executives from Carmen, Panano City and Tagum City welcomed the recommendation but they also have reservations considering that these vehicles are considered as one of the means of transportations in their jurisdiction.
In the next few weeks, Gaerlan said that they would put up signages, conduct information drive and consultation meeting with different associations of tricycle drivers and operators on the matter. (JCR)