Despite being illegal, there are still a lot of tricycles and pedicabs found on National Highways. To help with the road clearing operations, the DILG has ordered local chief executives to be more strict when implementing the ban, and create a tricycle task force.
“Matagal na nating ipinagbabawal ang mga tricycles at pedicabs sa national highway ngunit ang daming pasaway. Hindi lang ito nakakasagabal sa daan kundi nagiging sanhi ng sakuna sa kalye. Kaya dapat nang maging mahigpit ang mga mayor at ang pulis at siguruhing maipapatupad ang ban na ito,” said Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.
According to the law, even crossing or U-turns on National Highways should be illegal. To remedy the situation, the DILG has released the Memorandum Circular 2020-036, which entails that each city and municipality should create a tricycle task force separate from the regulatory boards. The task force should draft a proper plan, including a schematic map of tricycle terminals, national highways, and routes where tricycles can operate. If there are no alternative routes, the plan should also include the portions of the National Highways where tricycles can pass. The plan should also detail the installation of signages, marks for lanes, and other safety features to guide traffic, awareness among residents, and a color scheme for tricycles that are allowed on National Highways.
The task force will be lead by the mayor – acting as the chairman, with the chief of police as vice-chairman. Other members include the president of the Liga ng Mga Barangay, head of the tricycle regulatory board, head of the Department of Public Order and Safety, planning and development officer, head of traffic management officer, and local government operations officer.
Tricycles that violate the law will be issued a show-cause order, and failure to provide a valid response will be ground to file cases pursuant to Section 60 of the Local Government Code and other laws and policies.
“It is the responsibility of local chief executives to exact accountability and impose the corresponding sanctions against non-supportive or non-compliant local officials and employees,” Secretary Año added.
You may read DILG’s full statement here.
