LOW FINES, HIGH RECIDIVISM: Iloilo City’s colorum crackdown reaches a turning point

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Some illegal tricycle operators in Iloilo City have been caught as many as five times for violating transport regulations, prompting the Traffic and Transportation Management Office to push for stricter sanctions against repeat offenders.

TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said Thursday that some drivers continue returning to the roads after each apprehension because fines remain relatively low.

“We have identified provisions in the ordinance that need improvement because there are drivers who have already been apprehended five times. They simply pay the penalty and then go back to operating,” Garbanzos said.

Under Section 9 of City Regulation Ordinance No. 2024-116, or the Tricycle Franchising and Regulation Ordinance, drivers who fail to pay fees and penalties, operate on highways without authorization, or transport passengers and goods beyond their approved franchise routes face a PHP 1,000 fine and possible franchise revocation.

Those operating for hire without a valid franchise and Motorized Tricycle Operators Permit face the same minimum fine.

In the proposed amendments, Garbanzos said repeat violators could face confiscation of their tricycle sidecars after two or three apprehensions, with only the motorcycle unit returned.

“These are among the measures we are considering so that violations will no longer become a cycle, especially among tricycles that are repeatedly apprehended,” he said.

TTMO has apprehended between 1,000 and 1,500 tricycle and e-tricycle operators since last year for various violations, Garbanzos said.

Enforcement operations remain continuous to prevent road accidents and ensure compliance with the city’s Local Public Route Transport Plan and designated tricycle routes, he added.

Under the city ordinance, tricycle drivers and operators are required to operate only within their designated fixed routes based on their granted franchise.

“We have had stricter enforcement since then. The challenge is that we cannot address all concerns at once, especially issues involving both legal and colorum tricycles,” Garbanzos said.

Most colorum tricycle operations are concentrated in the City Proper district, he added.

The city government recently met with tricycle operators to discuss proposed route developments and new transport routes for possible endorsement to the City Council, Garbanzos said.

“This initiative aims to reduce colorum operations and ensure that tricycles, including e-trikes, are properly regulated,” he said.

City government records show 2,667 franchised tricycle units operating in Iloilo City, organized under 35 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations and serving 33 authorized routes.