Tricycles now allowed to use Metro Manila highways, national roads
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) agreed on Wednesday with the House Committee on Metro Manila Development to allow tricycles to ply on national roads and highways, provided they use the innermost lane.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed Wednesday between the House panel, chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo; the MMDA; the DOTr's Inter--
Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT); the Quezon City Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) Federation; and the Tricycle Regulatory Unit of Quezon City.
The signing was made during the House panel's hearing on the regulations of tricycles conveying children to schools in Metro Manila.
The MOA was signed by Castelo, Director TeroyTaguinod, of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office; Edison Nebrija, head of MMDA's Task Force Operation; Brig. Gen Manuel Gonzales of I-ACT; Charlie Mangune, vice president, internal affairs, Quezon City TODA Federation; and Robert dela Cruz, Tricycle Regulatory Unit of Quezon City.
During the hearing, Castelo cited the need for concerned government agencies to come up with a MOA to “address the confusion” and TODAs' traffic apprehension of their members, more specifically those plying Katipunan Road in Diliman, Quezon City.
In its interim report, the Castelo panel asked the concerned government agencies to form a technical working group to “propose interim solutions and strategic actions to solve traffic problems.”
The panel urged all government agencies in the traffic enforcement in the National Capital Region (NCR) to hold a summit, together with TODAs, to determine what courses of action will be appropriate and legal.
It also asked the MMDA to promote and host the planned summit.
The Castelo panel also called on various TODAs to participate in the summit, “by identifying the various traffic issues encountered by their members and to be proactive in their discipline and organization of their members.”
The committee also asked the MMDA “to allow one-month proof of concept period to determine if the right most lane of Katipunan can be used as tricycle lanes.”
It was noted that during the hearing, national government agencies expressed their willingness to hold public hearings and consultative meetings to harmonize the interests of the parties and uphold the common good.