The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum circular (MC) urging local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to enforce the prohibition of tricycles. pedicabs including motorized pedicabs along major thoroughfares.
The DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-195 was issued after the DILG said it has been continuously receiving reports that tricycles and pedicabs continue to navigate national roads as well as incidents of accidents involving these ‘modes of transportation.’’
These incidents according to the DILG has been a ‘major concern’ for the government, citing that a total of 2,829 road accidents involving bikes/e-bikes/pedicabs occurred in Metro Manila for the year 2022.alone.
In the same report, the DILG noted that 2,241 road accidents involving tricycles were recorded.
“Republic Act No. 4138 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code provides safety and precautionary measures to prevent the said incidents by providing restrictions and other traffic mechanisms. Section 9 of the law specifies the permissible weights and dimensions of vehicles, unladen or with load in the highway traffic. The weight and dimension may be updated from time to time as the conditions of the public highways may warrant and the needs service may require,’’ the DILG stated.
The DILG added that “Sections 447 (3)(vi) and 458 (3)(vi) of Republic Act No. 7160
Empower the local government units (LGUs0 to oversee and regulate the operation of tricycles through their respective Sanggunians and emphasize that such regulation must be subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).’’
The purpose of the MC is to reiterate the regulations prohibiting tricycles from operating on national roads and to ensure the safety of the tricycle drivers, passengers and other road users.