The Tagbilaran City Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) is looking into the possibility of allowing tricycles from the city to legally operate in Dauis and Panglao amid the growing number of commuters including tourists in the tri-locality area.
According to Tagbilaran City Councilor Dodong Gonzaga, he recommended for the initiative to be referred to the Tagbilaran-Dauis-Panglao Executive Committee, a coordinating body which oversees projects in the area, for consideration.
The plan was tackled by the SP last week after Tagbilaran City tricycle groups earlier raised the proposal.
“Mao na ang ilang [mga tricycle operators] hanyo kung duna bay pamaagi sa syudad nga e-allow sila or duna bay agreement sa LGU sa Dauis ug Panglao, og mo sugot ba sila na mo-sud ang mga tricycle sa Tagbilaran didto sa ilang teritoryo,” he said.
Aside from providing more commuting options to the public, the initiative is also seen to boost the income of tricycle drivers and operators.
“Ingon man na gusto unta pud ta makahatag og additional income sa mga tricycle drivers pero naay mga limitation pud,” he added.
Gonzaga said that approval of the initiative could also mean that tricycles from Baclayon and Dauis can also legally operate in Tagbilaran City.
He pinpointed this as a possible hurdle considering that operation of more tricycles in Tagbilaran City could lead to further traffic congestion, a perennial problem in the city.
“Problema ana kung e-allow nato ang Dauis ug Panglao tricycles na mo-sud sa Tagbilaran, madaghan na’g samot ang tricycle sa Tagbilaran, 3,000 na gud daan ni atong tricycle diri. So problema pud, mao na atong mga consequences. Mao hilanglan g’yud an og law’m na pag-studio,” he added.
Tricycles get their franchise from the local government unit (LGU), unlike four-wheel public utility vehicles which get their franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
With this, tricycles are only allowed to operate within the jurisdiction of the issuing LGU.
However, tricycles have been known to illegally operate outside their designated operation areas. (A. Doydora)