Prov’l dad seeks stricter regulation for off-road vehicles

4x4 adventure at the La Paz sand dunes in Laoag City (Photo courtesy of Tina Tan and LEAD)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Off-road vehicles carrying tourists seeking extraordinary adventure at the Ilocos Norte sand dunes will now subjected to stricter regulation to ensure the safety of tourists and at the same time protect this natural geological monument which has now become an additional livelihood for some local residents here.

Edward Tabili, 40, of Brgy. Nagbacalan in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, said driving a 4x4 vehicle is much more exciting than driving a public utility jeepney or a passenger bus he used to drive.

According to Mr. Tabili, driving thrilled passengers while they are screaming out loud on-board his yellow 4x4 vehicle owned by his employer is quite interesting as he also find excitement driving an off-road trail of the vast hilly sand dunes overseeing the West Philippine Sea.

For every unit of 4x4 vehicle with about 4-5 passengers, off-roaders usually charge them for at least P2,500 for an hour’s drive.

In fact, 4x4 vehicle operation in the province and the birth of sand boarding introduced by a group of fun-loving Ilocanos here, has grown into a regular livelihood for some Ilocanos as this became a big hit among extreme sports enthusiasts and adventure-seeking foreign and local tourists here.

To ensure proper management and preservation of the Ilocos sand dunes, Draft Provincial Ordinance No. 2014-06-026 sponsored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Domingo Ambrocio Jr. who wants proper accreditation of off-roaders.

Along with proper accreditation, it has been proposed that they should also undergo proper training in terms of emergency and basic tourism training particularly on how to deal with tourists. 

While deliberating on the salient provisions of the 4x4 vehicle ordinance on Jan. 19, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan opted to defer the ordinance on its second reading to allow other concerned groups and individuals to be affected by the proposed legislation to voice out also their concern prior to its final approval.

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 owned.

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 of 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.

The proposed ordinance however received several reactions as some of the sand dunes areas where they operate belong to some private lot owners.

At present, there are at least four areas where off-road vehicles operate. These are in La Paz in Laoag City and some areas in Suba, Culili point, and Bacsil-Mumulaan all in Paoay town.