‘RIDE OR RAID’: Colorum Tricycles Warned: Get a Franchise or Be Impounded

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Transportation and Traffic Management Office has issued a final warning to over 700 colorum tricycles operating in Iloilo City: secure a franchise by Wednesday, June 18, or face impoundment.

Starting June 19, TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said random operations will be launched across the city to apprehend violators of City Regulation Ordinance No. 2024-116, or the Tricycle Franchising and Regulation Ordinance.

“We have given enough time to apply,” Garbanzos said during a June 17 press conference.

“This is a stern warning—if there is no franchise as required by regulation, your tricycle will be impounded.”

To strengthen enforcement, the TTMO turned over 12 new motorcycles to its Task Force for the Tricycle Route Plan on Tuesday.

Garbanzos said operations will run 24/7, assisted by existing enforcement and clearing teams.

He noted that apprehensions will be random and based on intelligence reports.

Even tricycles affiliated with a Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association but lacking a valid franchise will be subject to impoundment.

Tricycles with pending applications or proof of intent to register by June 18 will be exempt from apprehension and issued a certification of pending registration.

As of June, the TTMO has awarded 2,667 slots for its tricycle route plan.

There are 33 operational routes and 35 active TODAs.

“We’ve already awarded nearly 2,000 slots and still have available space for those interested in joining a TODA,” Garbanzos said.

Since many colorum tricycles operate during rush hours and late at night, the city has urged transport cooperatives to extend service hours.

“Some cooperatives have committed to operate until 10 p.m. or even midnight, but we’re encouraging more to follow suit,” he added.

Under the Local Public Transport Route Plan, cooperatives are expected to maintain 24/7 dispatching.

Garbanzos emphasized that tricycles must follow fixed routes to avoid overlap with other public utility vehicles covered by the LPTRP.

Tricycles found operating outside of designated routes or without a valid driver’s license will also be impounded.

Impounded units will be brought to the TTMO’s designated impound site near the port area by the YMCA Iloilo along Iznart Street.

While the Calajunan dumpsite is available as an alternative site, the TTMO lacks the personnel and towing capacity to transport large volumes of vehicles there.