By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Francis Tolentino urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday to allow a limited number of tricycles to continue ferrying passengers and goods in local government units (LGUs) during the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine over Luzon.
Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
(Senator Francis Tolentino official Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Tolentino, chair of Senate local government committee, appealed to DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to allow tricycle operations to serve residents who would go out to buy basic necessities.
Under the enhanced community quarantine which took effect Tuesday, a strict home quarantine has been enforced and mass public transportation has been suspended to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Since allowed ang public markets and talipapa, allow dapat 10 tricycles per public market to ferry goods and passengers," Tolentino said in a text message. (Since public markets and small markets are still allowed, 10 tricycles per public market should be allowed to ferry goods and passengers.)
The former mayor said the DILG may do this since LGUs have the supervision over public markets, as well as the issuance of tricycle franchises.
He added it would also result in "better coordination in terms of movement of goods and people".
Tolentino also cited Pasig City, which allowed tricycles for health workers and for others who are exempted under the quarantine.
Earlier, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto appealed to the national government to allow tricycle operations within the city to transport health workers and residents who are in need of immediate medical assistance.
Sotto, citing their local risk assessment, said it would be "more dangerous" to public health should tricycle operations be completely prohibited during the enhanced community quarantine. Transportation offered by the local government unit is also limited, he said.
READ MORE: Entire Luzon under quarantine