HIGHWAY BAN: Roxas City mulls alternatives for tricycles

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The city government is mulling an alternative plan for passenger tricycles that pass on national roads here.

In a meeting called by Mayor Ronnie Dadivas on Wednesday, the Roxas City Tricycle Task Force (RCTTF) and Technical Working Group were created and tasked to draft the alternative tricycle route plan.

The working group will adopt a slow lane area on the right side of the national highway where tricycles can pass.

Signages will be placed to assure the safety of the riding public and tricycle drivers.

The Sanggunian Panlungsod will also be asked to pass an ordinance or resolution endorsing the alternative route plan and imposing speed limits to vehicles passing through the national road.

Color schemes, reflectorized signs, or any visible emblem will also be implemented and installed on tricycles and national roads.

Dadivas earlier asked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to spare the city from the ban on tricycle, pedicab, and motorized pedicabs on national highways.

He said commuters, tricycle operators, and drivers will be affected if the DILG memorandum is strictly implemented.

Dadivas said the city government will find remedies to protect the interest of the tricycle sector.

Last week, the chief of the Maintenance and Construction Division of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Capiz 1st Engineering District said they need to dialogue with the Local Government Units regarding DPWH Memorandum Circular No. 036-2020.

Engr. Julius Abela said the implementation should be done gradually so that tricycle drivers and operators would not lose their livelihoods.

He added that local officials should find alternative solutions because this is a law that should be followed and implemented.

DPWH Department Order No. 73 Series of 2014 strictly bans obstruction/encroachment or usurpation on the right of way in the national road and highway.

Abela said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered LGUs to clear identified road obstructions as mandated in the campaign of the government on Road Clearing Operation 2.0.