City Councilor Elgin Damasco confirmed to the media Wednesday that he has finally decided to leave his position as the chairman of the Council’s Vommittee on transportation, citing he “feels” so politicized by the opposition member Councilor Peter Maristela.
Damasco gave this confirmation January 29, after a public hearing on the tricycle ban at the City Coliseum, following a heated discussion between the two, which compelled City Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates to declare a recess and take over presiding the event.
Damasco stated he “felt insulted” by Councilor Peter Maristela’s statements that while he already did his best for the affected population, the latter still insisted that Puerto Princesa City Government is capable of contesting its case to the Supreme Court and win, and still be exempted on the trike ban along national highways.
“Gagawa na ako ng resignation [letter]. Seryoso ‘yon at hinahamon ko si Konsehal Maristela na pamunuan niya ang Committee on Transportation. Hindi bugso ng damdamin iyon. Doon natin malalaman kung tama ang mga sinasabi niya. Patunayan niya na tama ang sinasabi niya at mali ako. Patunayan niya na kaya niyang depensahan at huwag maipatupad ng mga pulis. Hinahamon ko po siya, with all due respect,” said Damasco.
“Hindi ako galit sa kanila, okay na ako. Nainsulto lang ako sa kaniya dahil parang, dahil abugado siya, siya lang ang may alam sa batas. Ang problema dito [is] isa nga ang pinaglalaban namin dito [pero] kung hahaluan ng pulitika dahil kalaban, administrasyon [at] oposisyon, wala tayong maibibigay na solusyon sa mga tao, ang hinahanap natin dito solusyon sa mga tao,” Damasco added.
Damasco reiterated Maristela is just giving the public “false hope” on a matter, which cannot be done, and stated that a local government cannot supersede a national law.
During the public consultation, Maristela said he believes and is positive that the City Government will win the case should the matter be lifted even up to the Supreme Court.
Maristela said being a lawyer he knows Puerto Princesa can still contest the position under Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2007-01.
This he said states that in pursuant with the guidelines of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) “for safety reasons” no pedicabs or tricycles should operate along national roads utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where “normal speed exceeds 40KPH”.
Maristela said this guideline will definitely exclude from the trike ban the national roads in Barangay San Pedro, including the Rizal Avenue.
“Nais ko lamang pong sabihin na bilang abogado rin po, bilang isang konsehal, kung ako ang titingin hindi po inaalis ng guidelines na pupuwede ang tricycle doon sa mga highway na hindi mag-e-exceed ng 40 kilometers per hour ang takbo. Iyon po ay nakalagay, nabanggit nga ni Konsehal Elgin, nakalagay ‘yan sa unang sulat noong 2007 ng DILG,” said Maristela.
Martistela who caused the crowd to cheer for him due his propositions also pointed the second paragraph of Section 2 of the Department Order of DOTC in 2008.
Maristela said in this Department Order 2008-23, DOTC stated that Sangguniang Panlungsod might provide for exceptions, yet ensuring the public safety is taken into consideration.
“Ang sabi po ng DOTC dito, Section 2 second paragraph, tricycle may operate only along city [or] municipal streets, not along national roads, however, their operation is limited only to route not traversed by higher modes of public transport. However, Sangguniang Bayan [or] Sangguniang Panlungsod might provide more exceptions taking into consideration public safety,” said Maristela.
“Kaya nga po ang sabi doon ng DOTC hindi pupuwede ang tricycle kapag ito ay dinadaanan ng sasakyang more than four tons and ang normal speed ay lalampas ng 40 kilometers per hour, ibig sabihin kung hindi lalampas ng 40 kilometers per hour ay maaring gumawa ang Sangguniang Panlungsod ng isang ordinansa na payagan sila sa national highway. Iyon po ang aking pagkakaintindi doon,” said Maristela.
DOTR Senior Consultant Alberto Suansing who personally visited the city upon the request of Damasco said during the public consultation it is the call of the City Council to contest the matter to the Supreme Court.
However, Suansing also stated during the interview with the media that the new DILG-DOTR joint Memorandum Circular 2017 states only of banning tricycles on “national roads” without alternate route, without specifying the normal speed allowed.
Suansing said regardless of the speed allowed on the national highways does not change the roads’ classification.
He also added he cannot yet say as of the moment what faces the affected population, stating he was just invite during the public consultation to discuss the law.
“Ako ay inimbitahan dito para ihayag kung ano ang batas. So sinabi ko lang kung ano ‘yong dapat na ipatupad, so hanggang doon lang ako. Basta ang sinasabi ko, ‘yong ordinansa na dapat ipatupad dapat naka-tono sa batas natin,” said Suansing.
Suansing also assured the public the national government is always willing to support the affected population upon their adjustments on the impending change.
On the other hand, Maristela noted that having this joint memorandum circular does not mean it abandons the earlier guidelines.
“Doon sa joint memorandum circular, ilang beses binanggit itong guidelines in the review series of December 2008 ng Department of Transportation. Ibig sabihin po [ay] hindi ina-abandon ‘yong mother guidelines. With all due respect sa ating kagalang-galang na assistant secretary, sir, hindi po nito ina-abandon [ang mother guidelines]. Ang pinaka-rason kung bakit bawal ang tricycle sa national highway is for public safety,” said Maristela.
Police Major (PMaj) Ariel Abanto, the leader of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team (PHPT) told Palawan Daily News (PDN) they will pursue on the implementation of trike ban, having its dry run start by February 1.