AROUND 100 illegal tricycles, pedicabs and "bao-bao" were apprehended from February 24 to 26 in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) memorandum that seeks to ban tricabs in national highways.
According to Antonio Resma Jr. of the Regulatory and Compliance Board (RCB), the tricycle, pedicabs and "bao-baos" were apprehended along the national highway in Barangays Gusa, Tablon and Puerto.
Apprehended tricab drivers, Resma said, will be issued with citation tickets wherein they will have to pay P500.
"Depende sa other violations, example kung walay driver's license or walay registration ang unit, P1,500 ang penalty plus impoundment," Resma said
"Ga study pa ta kung kanus-a nato i-fully implement ang impounding ani nila kung naa sila sa highway," he added.
He added that if the apprehended tricab drivers will again be caught traveling along the national highway, their units will directly be impounded.
"Hangyo nato sa ilaha nga mo-comply sila sa DILG memo. Kani dili lang man sa local level ni sya but national ang directive ani. So gamay nga pagsabot sa atong implementation niani," Resma said.
He said the ban includes those tricab units for public use, for hire and government use.
"I have information nga ang Cocpo (Cagayan de Oro City Police Office) naay mga tricab units gihapon. So ato nang gi-advise ang Cocpo nga dili gyud ipaagi gihapon kay kita gyud dapat ang mahimong example. Gibawal sa national highway regardless of unsay nature sa usage bawal gihapon na sya diha," Resma said.
The City Engineering Office and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has also started studying for alternative routes or roads for tricabs, according to Resma.
In fact, he said, they already have a proposal for road openings to cater to the tricab drivers.
"Kanang insufficient nga mode of transportation, most probably ma-address na na sa atong modernization sa atong jeepneys," Resma added.
Tricycle, pedicab, tricab or "bao-bao" drivers are also encouraged to avail themselves of the City Government's programs and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's skills training for an alternative livelihood.