IN board eyes regulation of off-road vehicles’ operations

(Photos courtesy of LEAD Movement)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—In a bid to put safety regulations for the environment, particularly the province’s coastlines, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is studying a move to regulate the operation of off-road driving operations.

Off-road driving with the use 4x4 vehicles has become a tourist attraction in the province, especially for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Draft Provincial Ordinance No. 2014-06-026 sponsored by Philippine Councilors’ League-Ilocos Norte chapter president and ex-officio provincial board member Domingo Ambrocio Jr. said the Ilocos Norte sand dunes ordinance primarily aims to preserve the natural terrain of this province’s natural geological sprawling coastline that traverses Currimao to Pasuquin town in this northern Luzon island.

The Ilocanos’ unique innovation of 4x4 adventure and sand boarding in the country’s premiere eco-tourism destination has contributed to a steady influx of tourists visiting the famous sand dunes of Ilocos Norte.

To protect this natural heritage site against all forms of environment degradation and provide fair standards for the operation of 4x4 vehicles and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers, the provincial board has proposed the mandatory registration and accreditation of 4x4 vehicle operations in the province.

Attended by local operators of 4x4 vehicles including the Pinakbet group in Laoag City and the Association of 4x4 vehicle operators in Paoay, a public hearing was held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall on Aug. 21 to discuss the salient provisions of the sand dunes ordinance.

Conspicuously absent during the hearing was LEAD Movement, the group that pioneered sand boarding in the La Paz sand dunes, and which is also hosting off-road events for tourists. According to a member of the group, who requested not to be identified, LEAD Movement was not invited to the hearing.

“We are trying to push tourism, so we need to ensure the safety of tourists,” SP member Vicentito M. Lazo said.

Under the proposed ordinance, every owner of 4x4 vehicle shall pay a registration fee of P2,000 and a sticker fee of P200.00 per vehicle.

Aside from securing business registration and license to operate, no person shall drive or operate a 4x4 vehicle at the sand dunes without a certificate of accreditation duly issued by the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.

The INTO in collaboration with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, Department of Public Safety and the Philippine National Red Cross shall also issue safety permits to all accredited 4x4 vehicles aside from securing a separate permit from the Land Transportation Office which include a group insurance policy.

Once approved, non-compliance of said ordinance shall be penalized ranging from P 2,000 to P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year or both, upon discretion of the court and possible disqualification to engage in any tourism-related business.

For local 4x4 operators, Michael Luis of the Pinakbet group said they support the ordinance saying the sand dunes is so vast where everybody can choose where to play. He suggested however that there should be specific routes where to operate to give time for other parts of the dunes to recover in time.