DILG: No tricycles and pedicabs on national roads
Published Jun 4, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday, June 4, clarified that tricycles and pedicabs are still banned on major thoroughfares in places under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya confirmed this stressing that these vehicles are prohibited on national roads, even before Metro Manila and other areas were placed under quarantine protocols due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To prevent confusion, Malaya noted that what was temporarily suspended because of COVID-19 was the road clearing operation “but the prohibition on tricycles and pedicabs is provided for by law and could not, therefore, be suspended by the DILG.’’ On top of Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Malaya noted that prior DILG Memorandum Circulars (MCs) 2020-036, 2020-004, 2011-68, and 2007-11 have already been issued prohibiting the operation of tricycles and pedicabs on national roads and prescribing the operating conditions and franchising of tricycles. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that LGUs are the ones regulating the operation of tricycles and padyaks (pedicabs) in secondary roads. He reminded that tricycles and pedicabs should only ply secondary roads and must only have one passenger on board. Año also reiterated the pronouncement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the mayors are prohibited from allowing back rides in areas under GCQ and MGCQ, in line with the directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Despite mounting complaints from the transport sector, Año insisted that public health safety remains the priority of the government during this crisis. Appealling for public understanding, Año noted that the people cannot be complacent as physical distancing should be strictly observed to prevent the second wave of COVID-19 infections. Safety in public transportation Malaya asserted that tricycle drivers must wear face masks or face shields, gloves, and allow only one passenger per trip in observance of physical distancing, except during medical emergencies. In MC 2020-083, the DILG reminded LGUs that all forms of public transport vehicles, terminals, and facilities should be regularly disinfected, while social distancing measures must be implemented as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH) and the IATF. To enable distancing, Malaya noted “that all public utility vehicles (PUVs) and private vehicles shall only ferry at most 50 percent of their seating capacity and still observe physical distancing inside the PUV and the terminal, to include queueing for boarding the vehicle and upon entering the terminal premises." Malaya also underscored the policy that transportation for medical frontliners should be continuously provided. “Priority shall be given to medical frontliners in terms of access to public transportation, which should include free transport services, provision of government transportation, and priority in terminals and in PUVs,” Malaya said, in reference to MC 2020-083.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya confirmed this stressing that these vehicles are prohibited on national roads, even before Metro Manila and other areas were placed under quarantine protocols due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To prevent confusion, Malaya noted that what was temporarily suspended because of COVID-19 was the road clearing operation “but the prohibition on tricycles and pedicabs is provided for by law and could not, therefore, be suspended by the DILG.’’ On top of Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Malaya noted that prior DILG Memorandum Circulars (MCs) 2020-036, 2020-004, 2011-68, and 2007-11 have already been issued prohibiting the operation of tricycles and pedicabs on national roads and prescribing the operating conditions and franchising of tricycles. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that LGUs are the ones regulating the operation of tricycles and padyaks (pedicabs) in secondary roads. He reminded that tricycles and pedicabs should only ply secondary roads and must only have one passenger on board. Año also reiterated the pronouncement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the mayors are prohibited from allowing back rides in areas under GCQ and MGCQ, in line with the directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Despite mounting complaints from the transport sector, Año insisted that public health safety remains the priority of the government during this crisis. Appealling for public understanding, Año noted that the people cannot be complacent as physical distancing should be strictly observed to prevent the second wave of COVID-19 infections. Safety in public transportation Malaya asserted that tricycle drivers must wear face masks or face shields, gloves, and allow only one passenger per trip in observance of physical distancing, except during medical emergencies. In MC 2020-083, the DILG reminded LGUs that all forms of public transport vehicles, terminals, and facilities should be regularly disinfected, while social distancing measures must be implemented as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH) and the IATF. To enable distancing, Malaya noted “that all public utility vehicles (PUVs) and private vehicles shall only ferry at most 50 percent of their seating capacity and still observe physical distancing inside the PUV and the terminal, to include queueing for boarding the vehicle and upon entering the terminal premises." Malaya also underscored the policy that transportation for medical frontliners should be continuously provided. “Priority shall be given to medical frontliners in terms of access to public transportation, which should include free transport services, provision of government transportation, and priority in terminals and in PUVs,” Malaya said, in reference to MC 2020-083.