SOME tricycle drivers in Mandaue City expressed worry over the move to ban tricycles along national highways.
Antonio Libita, 30, said it will hurt their earnings as they pick up many of their daily passengers along national highways.
Edwin Ermac, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), earlier said he will meet with drivers and operators of multicabs to discuss changes in their routes to cater to commuters dependent on tricycles.
Ermac said tricycles will only be allowed to operate on interior roads once the new routes for multicabs take effect.
He explained that the City Government has been reminded by the Department of Public Works and Highways of the national policy banning tricyles and pedicabs along national highways.
But Libita, who picks up passengers bound for Barangays Looc and Paknaan, said the policy will mean income loss for tricycle drivers like him.
“Maapektuhan gyud among inadlawng kita kung mapatuman na (Our daily earnings will surely get affected if that policy gets implemented),” he said.
Route
Plaridel St., which is part of Libita’s daily route, is among the national highways which may soon be closed to tricycles. The other roads are M.L. Quezon St., M.C. Briones St., Hernan Cortes St., and A.S. Fortuna St.
For his part, Jobert Nemenzo, chairman of the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines Mandaue Chapter, expressed support for the move to enforce the policy.
He said members of their federation have been complying with the policy. “Part of the routes of our members is to cross national highways, but not ply along these,” he said.
A memorandum circular by the Department of Interior and Local Government last 2007 prohibits tricycles and pedicabs along “national highways utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kilometers per hour.” The policy is aimed at preventing accidents.
Ermac is set to meet with drivers and operators of multicabs with routes going to Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, Foodland and the Country Mall in Banilad at 9 a.m. on Jan. 14. The meeting will be held at the Team office.
After that, Ermac said he will consult tricycle drivers.