By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporters
LAOAG CITY—With numerous
complaints regarding tricycles that operate outside the bound of their
respective jurisdictions, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan convened a committee
hearing to reiterate its call for all concerned to follow the agreed protocol
or face penalties based on their franchise ordinances.
Earlier, tricycle drivers
associations in Laoag City have been complaining about other tricycle drivers
from the neighboring municipalities of San Nicolas, Sarrat, Vintar and Bacarra
who are bringing in passengers to Laoag City and back-loading passengers on
their way home.
Some even set up a loading
and unloading zones which is clearly a violation of the “out of line” policy.
In view of this, Laoag City government
administrator Cipriano Hilarion “Perry” Martinez III has called the attention
of the Ilocos Norte board to settle the issue among trike drivers associations
here.
The respective presidents and
representatives of the concerned tricycle drivers associations, traffic
enforcers and several lawmakers from the various affected towns were invited at
the committee hearing, reiterating an earlier agreement or several exceptions
of the out of line policy of Laoag.
While a memorandum of
agreement has been existing since 2011, the Federated Association of Tricycle
Drivers in Laoag City said other for-hire tricycle drivers from the neighboring
municipalities continue to violate what has been earlier agreed upon.
“To avoid misunderstanding,
you have to police your own ranks for the benefit of everybody,” said SP member
Albert Chua, in his capacity, chairperson of the committee on transportation.
As agreed before, the
exemption of out of line policy may only be due to the following reasons: when
the passenger is a family member, in case of emergency, in case the tricycle
use for the transportation for those working and studying in Laoag City area,
that in case it will pass through in the city area going to another city of
municipality of the province and in case of the mentioned above, all tricycle
for-hire should hang a “Not for Hire” sign in their respective tricycles.
Everyone also agreed that the
only dropping point will be just beside the along Bonifacio cor. Nolasco sts. and
near the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium when dropping off students.
Also, each of every
municipality or cities shall be furnished their respective traffic code for
them to be guided upon the dos and don’ts should they enter an area which is
not within their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Laoag City traffic
division OIC SPO1 Sean Francis Bugaoisan said they will stick to an earlier
agreement between tricycle associations of Laoag and its neighboring
municipalities.
Mr. Bugaoisan is hopeful that
the agreement would be followed or they may be forced to apprehend tricycle
violators and endorse them to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which would
give them harsher penalties.
The agreement between
tricycle associations allow all sides to enter other cities or municipalities
provided they will not ferry passengers on their way back.
Tricycle groups in Laoag have
noticed that several tricycles from outside the city ferry passengers on their
way back. This has also been pointed out by jeepney associations around the
city.
Laoag Mayor Chevylle V.
Fariñas supports this agreement as she hopes this would now end the complaints
of all groups concerned.
She added this is a better
solution than having passengers dropped off at boundaries of cities and
municipalities for them to ride another tricycle that would get them to their
destination.
However she warned all
concerned to heed the agreement so everyone would be satisfied and all their
problems solved.
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