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MANDAUE CITY, Philippines - Several tricycle drivers in Mandaue City on Monday were issued temporary operator's permit for insisting on plying their old route along Zamora Street turning right to FB Cabahug Street at the back of the City Hall.
The 30-day experimental period of the tricycle rerouting ended last week, but Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes insisted on continuing with the new route.
Under the new route, tricycles go through Zamora Street but instead of turning right to FB Cabahug Street will go straight to the public market, without an appropriate ordinance.
After several attempts by traffic enforcers to impound tricycles on Monday afternoon, Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (Nadsu) secretary general Ruben Rama said some of their colleagues volunteered to guard their ranks to prevent them from being apprehended.
The local drivers' association in Mandaue is affiliated with the Nadsu.
“We watched over each other because some of the tricycles of our colleagues were almost impounded,” Rama said in Cebuano.
He said he saw traffic enforcers trying to impound three tricycles, but were stopped by fellow drivers.
Some tricycles plying Barangay (village) Centro displayed huge red flags bearing the name of Nadsu to dramatize their desire that they wanted their old route back.
Councilor Victor Biaño said the tricycles should get their old route back since the 30-day experimental period has ended.
“Until now, we still have not received a recommendation or a progress report from the traffic board about the experiment,” said Biaño.
“We are giving them (traffic board) time to render a report before the scheduled sessions or else we will have to draft a new ordinance (for the tricycle routes) based on our own consultations with various sectors without the suggestions of the traffic board,” Biaño said.
Rama said the income of tricycle dwindle due to the new route.
Even the passengers complained of the new route, he added.
“The terminal that they provided for the tricycles is too narrow,” Rama said.
A group of drivers challenged Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue acting chief Cristobal Guido to try driving a tricycle for 16 hours to determine how much a driver earns in a day.
Guido did not accept the challenge.
Rama said the traffic enforcers did not have a basis in implementing the new route in the absence of an ordinance.
But Rama said the drivers are open to a dialog with the city officials on new route.
“If they decide to extend, they should stipulate when it would start and when it would end. The dates should be clear,” Rama said.
“We would just like to request from traffic enforcers and the police not to harass the drivers,” Rama said.
