No trike ban on Puerto Princesa national roads yet

The banning of tricycles along national roads is still not implemented in Puerto Princesa.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 2007-01 issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), tricycles nationwide are banned to travel along national highways.

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But Puerto Princesa City has an existing resolution allowing tricycles to ply through its national road and the City Council filed another resolution asking for exemption.

On December 23, 2018, the City Council approved a resolution drafted by Councilor Rolando Amurao, Chairman in Committee of Transportation, requesting DILG to exempt Puerto Princesa City from the nationwide ban.

Amurao said that the city is not yet prepared for the implementation, as there are not enough jeepneys and multicab in the city.

“Hindi pa tayo handa dahil kokonti pa ang ating jeepney at multicab para serbisyohan ang ating mga mananakay sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa.”

Tricycle drivers are also appealing to exempt the city from the nationwide ban.

“National law yan eh. Syempre, kailangan naming sumunod. Pero kawawa naman ang mga commuters. Kung tatanggalin ang mga tricycle sa national highway, wala na kaming magagawa diyan pero pano na ang mga commuters? Para sa akin, wag muna nila itong ipatupad,” said Fernando, a tricycle diver for 23 years.

Another tricycle driver also added, “Kung tatanggalin nila ang mga tricycle, maraming mawawalan ng trabaho.”

Meanwhile, Amurao said that the resolution requesting the exemption of the city from the nationwide ban is temporary.

“Eventually, habang nagde-develop ang Puerto Princesa City, there will come a time na matatanggal talaga ang mga tricycle sa highway, dahil bawal naman talaga sila sa national highway. Kasi syempre magkakaroon na ng maraming taxi, magkakaroon ng maraming jeepney at multicab,” he said.

Amurao also added, “Dito sa Puerto Princesa, pinayagan natin sila dahil wala noong sasakyan; wala pang mga multicab at jeepney. Tricycle talaga ang means of transportation sa lungsod. So pinayagan sila. Pero itong pagpayag na ito is only a privilege and not a right.”

The DILG is still to make a decision on the city government’s request for exemption.