City dad: Reduce number of tricycle for hire units

BACOLOD City Councilor Dindo Ramos is proposing to reduce the number of tricycle units for hire in various barangays in the city.

Ramos, who held a public hearing yesterday at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) with the tricycle operators and drivers association from various barangays, said he passed an ordinance authorizing the adjustment of the number of units of associations of motorized tricycle for hire upon the recommendation of barangay officials.

“The manner of amending of city ordinances is a long and tedious process which hampers the immediate response to the problems encountered by the operators

and drivers of motorized tricycle for hire operating in the city,” he said.

He added there is a need to fast track each approval of the adjustment of the number of units allowed for every association through the recommendation of their respective barangay officials and approval of such request by the SP through the SP resolution.

Ramos, chairperson of the City Council committee on transportation and traffic, noted there are numerous requests from various associations of tricycle for hire to adjust the number of units allowed to operate in various routes to satisfy the growing demand for public transport of a rapidly growing highlyurbanized city.

Ramos said most of the operators and drivers are in favor of the proposed ordinance, which was already approved on first reading.

“We need to limit or adjust the number of tricycles operating in various areas to address traffic problems like the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that also control the number of utility jeepneys operating in a certain area,” he said.

He added the number of tricycles to operate will depend on the area of the barangay and the need of the community.

The tricycle operators and drivers association were also required to justify their need to increase the number of tricycles to operate within their respective barangays.

Ramos disclosed he will submit a committee report next week to the City Council and for the deliberation of the proposed ordinance on second reading./map