The City Council’s transportation committee said Friday there will be a “no tricycle ban” on the national roads here in Puerto Princesa yet.
Councilor Elgin Damasco, transportation committee chair, told Palawan Daily News (PDN) in an interview Friday this is because the local government “in the meantime”, is still going to conduct a further study whether the national highways within the city have sufficient alternate routes.
“Binasa ko po ang batas meron namang nakalagay doon na kapag walang alternate route ay puwede namang payagan sa national highway [ang mga tricycles]. Ngayon, gusto po nating tingnan muna at pag-aralan munang mabuti [kung] meron bang alternate route ang Puerto Princesa City para okay na, na hindi natin payagan, na mag-traverse sa national highway ang mga tricycles,” said Damasco.
However, Damasco reiterated this is possible only as long as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) permits.
Damasco said if the study will reveal enough alternate routes in Puerto Princesa, the City Government has no other choice but to implement the “trike ban” along national roads.
“[Ito ay] sa ngayon dahil patuloy pa po nating pinag-a-aralan ‘yan,” he said.
Damasco did not yet mention when this study will be concluded.
It was also in December last year when the same matter was tackled at the City Council after DILG sent a new order to Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) to clear the national highways of tricycles and bicycle-pedicabs.
DILG has issued in 2007 the Memorandum Circular No. 2007-01, which bans tricycle and pedicab operations along national roads for safety reasons.