BACOLOD City Councilor Dindo Ramos has proposed the reduction of the number of tricycle units for hire in various barangays in the city.
Ramos, who held a public hearing November 8 at the City Council with the tricycle operators and drivers association from various barangays, said he passed an ordinance authorizing the adjustment of the number of units of associations of motorized tricycle for hire upon the recommendation of barangay officials.
"The manner of amending of city ordinances is a long and tedious process which hampers the immediate response to the problems encountered by the operators and drivers of motorized tricycle for hire operating in the city," he said.
He said there is a need to fast-track each approval of the adjustment of the number of units allowed for every association through the recommendation of their respective barangay officials and approval of such request by the City Council through the City Council resolution.
Ramos, chairperson of the City Council committee on transportation and traffic, noted there are numerous requests from various associations of tricycle for hire to adjust the number of units allowed to operate in various routes to satisfy the growing demand for public transport of a rapidly growing highly-urbanized city.
Ramos said most of the operators and drivers are in favor of the proposed ordinance that was already approved on first reading.
"We need to limit or adjust the number of tricycles operating in various areas to address traffic problems like the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board that also control the number of utility jeepneys operating in a certain area," he said.
He said the number of tricycles to operate will depend on the area of the barangay and the need of the community.
The tricycle operators and drivers association were also required to justify their need to increase the number of tricycles to operate within their respective barangays.
Ramos said he will submit a committee report next week to the City Council and for the deliberation of the proposed ordinance on second reading. (MAP)