THE Bacolod City Council has approved Wednesday requesting the barangay councils to strictly enforce safety requirements for registered public utility pedicabs.
A pedicab, or what is commonly known as "trisikad" is a three-wheeled vehicle that can carry two passengers in a covered rear seats.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Ricardo Tan, is pursuant to the provisions of City Ordinance No. 270 series of 2000 or an ordinance allowing and regulating the operation of the pedicab or "trisikad."
It cited that the authority to issue licenses to operate (LO) and certificate to operate (CO) trisikads has been granted by the City Ordinance No. 270 to the barangay council through the office of the barangay captain, and the said LO and CO, whenever issued should be properly installed on the body of the individual trisikad unit.
Section 2.2 of Article III provides that the CO and LO should be attached and displayed on the trisikad before the drivers will be allowed to carry passengers.
The resolution added that these requirements are imposed to ensure the legality of the trisikads, validity of the registrations, and the capability of the drivers to safely transport passengers.
Road warning devices
Meanwhile, Tan has also requested the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) and the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to strictly require contractors, and private and public utility companies to install conspicuous signs or warning devices in their road excavations to avoid traffic accidents.
Tan said both the CEO and BTAO should regulate and monitor road hazards, among which are excavations undertaken by public and private utility companies for repair and maintenance of their underground facilities, road repairs or expansions, and drainage systems upgrade.
He added that these activities are undertaken for quite a long period of time with many of the holes and excavations simply left without cover or early warning devices such as those that can be found along Burgos Extension.
These holes and excavations, which are being negligently left without cover and early warning devices, continually pose a traffic hazard to the commuting public, he further said.