The City Government will conduct on January 18 a public consultation to discuss with the stakeholders the recent DILG letter, which further reiterated the implementation of the banning of tricycles and pedicabs along national roads in Puerto Princesa.
Councilor Elgin Damasco, transportation committee chair, told the media Monday this letter was sent on January 10, Friday, by the City Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and was received during the same day by the City Hall.
“Nag-order na si DILG City Director Virgilio Tagle kay Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron na ipatupad na ang banning sa mga tricycle and pedicabs sa mga national highways. Hindi ‘yan galing sa akin, galing ‘yan sa DILG,” said Damasco.
“Na-receive noong January 10. Kasi nga may order ang DILG national na ipatupad na. Pero ilalaban pa rin natin kasi kailangan din nating tingnan ‘yong sitwasyon ng mga tricycle operators. Ngunit hindi natin puwedeng isawalang-bahala ito. So kailangang magkaroon ng mga public consultations, tatanungin din sila ano ang masasabi nila,” he added.
Damasco stated this must be well-studied before the “full implementation” considering some national highways in the city do not have alternate routes yet.
However, he said the public must also understand that this order is pushed by the DILG, which must also be obeyed by the local government.
“I-identify muna natin ang mga national highways na walang mga alternate roads. Katulad ng Sicsican. I-a-allow pa rin basta wala lang alternate route [o] wala bang puwedeng daanan sa looban, secondary roads na puwedeng daanan sila maliban dito sa national highway,” he said.
DILG has issued in 2007 the Memorandum Circular No. 2007-01, which bans tricycle and pedicab operations along national roads for safety reasons.