LGUs told: Ban tricycles on national highways

[Mike J]

 Agree it is a problem, but nothing really changed when they tried this last year.   Not sure why they think it will be any different this time.  Do the same thing and expect a different result? 

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2023/12/10/2317820/lgus-told-ban-tricycles-national-highways

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government has reiterated its call to local government units concerning the prohibition of tricycles from operating on national highways for the safety of tricycle drivers, its passengers and other road users.

While tricycles, pedicabs and motorized pedicabs play a significant role by providing affordable and accessible modes of transportation to the people at the same time a good source of income to others, it has come to DILG’s attention reports of these modes of transportation continue to ply the national highways with incidents of accidents involving them.

DILG issued Memorandum Circular 2023-195 last December 6 signed by its officer-in-charge Undersecretary Marlo Iringan concerning this matter.

All local chief executives (LCEs) are reminded and directed to strictly implement the rules and regulations in line with this.

LCEs are expected to re-organize and/or re-convene its Tricycle Task Force (TTF) to draft and/or update its Tricycle Route Plan(TRP) which include schematic map of the tricycle routes, installation of visible and appropriate signages, marks for lanes, and other safety measures to guide and protect all vehicles; information-dissemination plans, color scheme or any visible emblem/signs imposed on tricycles which are allowed to ply a route which transverses a national highway: and penalties to be imposed on violators.

The TRPs has to be ensured as valid and effective and updated regularly.

Coordination with the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) team is also expected to ensure the identification, inclusion, and provision of alternative routes to those who will be affected by this prohibition.

LGUs are also to conduct consultation meetings with the associations and cooperatives of the affected drivers, and barangay officials, as applicable, to discuss and secure inputs and/or comments on the provision of alternative routes as required by Section 2(c) of the Local Government Code of 1991 and lay out the operating conditions necessary for the issuance of the Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit/Pedicab Operator’s Permit (MTOP/POP).

“As much as practicable, ensure implementation of permanent and long-term solutions in the plan, such as the construction of local roads or overpasses to serve as alternative routes for tricycles and pedicabs whose regular routes will be affected by this prohibition,” part of the memo reads.

Should there be no alternative routes available and as a last resort, the respective sanggunians of the LGU may consider issuing an exception and/or are highly encouraged to enact an ordinance providing a portion of the national highway (ideally the outermost lane) to be utilized as an alternative route provided that strict enforcement of road safety and regulations is primarily observed.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod is also to ensure that a thorough review of ordinances enacted by its component cities and municipalities to, as much as reasonable, “harmonize and complement traffic schemes and regulations within the province.”

Barangays are also directed to ensure cooperation with the cities or municipalities in implementing local policies for the purpose herein and coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in enforcing the ordinance and/or similar local issuances, especially in the apprehension of violators will be done

 

[scott h]

23 minutes ago, Mike J said:

Do the same thing and expect a different result?

The Philippines is a perfect example of "give them an inch, and they will take a mile!" 

When laws are so weakly enforced, these type of statements are just a publicity stunt. Its not only trikes now, those who can not afford cars or cant get a license are now buying these e-carts and they are clogging up the roads driven by underage drivers. They are already involved in colorum activities. 

You can pass any type of law you want, but if they are not enforced its just hot air 

[Joe LP]

There are too many infrastructure issues for this to work in the rural area.  I live in the capital of a rural province.  We are the economic force of our province.  So, where it might be easy to keep the ones tricycle companies and drivers in our city off the national roads, good luck trying to keep the drivers/owners who live in the neighboring municipalities off as they need those roads to get to our city.  The only roads connecting any neighboring municipalities to us are national roads.  

There was a coastal road that was being built that would have given a second road option to connect us to one of our neighbors, but that got washed out in a storm only about 1-2km into building it and never resumed.  

I agree they are a big issue, but the infrastructure to fix it isn't available yet in probably a lot of the rural provinces.

[fillipino_wannabe]

Maybe because of the rich girl who killed a whole family that were in a trike last month:
 

A pickup truck driver will be facing multiple complaints for allegedly causing a three-vehicle wreck in Calamba City, Laguna, on All Saints’ Day, police said Friday.

Calamba City Police Deputy Chief Major Jameson Aguilar identified the driver as Alyssa Mae Abitria. He said she is responsible for the road mishap that resulted in the death of spouses Gilbert and Aileen Palupit, and two of their children on November 1.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1854427/multiple-raps-for-pickup-truck-driver-in-calamba-crash-that-killed-4-police

Edited December 11, 2023 by fillipino_wannabe

[Possum]

3 hours ago, scott h said:

You can pass any type of law you want, but if they are not enforced its just hot air

In the capital city of our province almost no laws regarding traffic are enforced. The PNP take no part in enforcing laws though they will show up AFTER an accident. The is one HPG guy but no one is sure what he does other than escort VIPs.The answer I get when I ask why the police take no part in preventing accidents? "It's what the mayor wants. He doesn't want to lose votes."

As far as tricycles not being on national highways, that has always been the law. They are also supposed to stay to the right if they have to traverse for a short period. During Duterte's time he got mad once and told the mayors to get the trikes off the national roads or lose their jobs. It was great but only lasted a couple of weeks.

[hk blues]

6 hours ago, scott h said:

The Philippines is a perfect example of "give them an inch, and they will take a mile!" 

When laws are so weakly enforced, these type of statements are just a publicity stunt. Its not only trikes now, those who can not afford cars or cant get a license are now buying these e-carts and they are clogging up the roads driven by underage drivers. They are already involved in colorum activities. 

You can pass any type of law you want, but if they are not enforced its just hot air 

I'm totally with you on the e-carts.  No licence, no registration, no LTO seminar - basically free to drive on public roads with no restrictions.  Often driven by people who clearly have no road sense.  And they are putting themselves and their passengers at risk as they won't come out well in a collision. 

Keep them off the road and within the subdivisions OR have some form of registration etc etc.  

[BrettGC]

As much as I love the idea it wouldn't work where we are:  There's water, then highway then town.  Many of the roads joining the highway from inland don't have any backstreets connecting them and in some cases it's a kilometre or more so the the Trike drivers have no choice but to use the highway to move people around.  

I was sort of sad to see the pedi-trikes go to make way for the the e-carts over the last 18 months or so, felt like the end of an era.  Yeah, they were a pain in the proverbial but still....  As to their licencing, I know they have an association here and they're registered with the local city hall the same as the motorised trikes but beyond that, no idea.  

Besides, it's all well and good to make these headline announcements - they almost feel like random thought bubbles to me at times with their lack of research and planning - but as others have stated, without enforcement it's wasted breath. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by BrettGC

[gbmmbg]

12 hours ago, BrettGC said:

As much as I love the idea it wouldn't work where we are:  There's water, then highway then town

Here in Sibonga its the same way. No road but the national highway.