ILOILO City – With over a thousand tricycles operating here, why not create a city government body regulating them?
It may be called the Iloilo City Tricycle Franchising Regulatory Board (ICTFRB), said Councilor Romel Duron, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on transportation, energy and public utilities.
At present, said Duron, it is his committee that approves tricycle franchises.
It would be better, he said, if the city government sets up a body with regulatory powers and can also set policies covering tricycles.
“May complaint abi about tricycle fare…may problema abi sa tricycle driver…sa diin makadto,” said Duron who used to be a hearing officer at the Land Transportation Office – Region 6.
In his proposed ordinance creating the ICTFRB, the board has the following functions:
* prescribe and identify the zone/area of tricycle operation
* endorse any fare increase for tricycles to the city council
* fix, impose, collect and periodically review reasonable fees and other related charges in the regulation of tricycles-for-hire once every three years
* review, when necessary, existing legislations pertaining to the operation of tricycles-for-hire within the territorial jurisdiction of Iloilo City, and recommend amendments thereto to the city council; and
* address issues on complaints against erring officers, members and franchisees of tricycle operators and drivers’ associations, and all other concerned persons when necessary.
The ICTFRB, under the proposed ordinance, shall be composed of a chairman which is either the city mayor or his authorized representative, Duron as vice chairman while the members will be the heads of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, City Planning and Development Office, Business Permit and Licensing Office and the president of the Federation of Iloilo City Tricycle Operators and Drivers.
“Damo gakadto sa akon ma-apply tricycle franchise pero ang problema may moratorium on new franchises. Ang mga nag-expire na five years ago nagabiyahe sila wala ma-renew ila franchise. Hopefully ma-solve man ina sang ICTFRB,” said Duron.
The ICTFRB may also cover e-trikes.
“Indi man sila registered gani. Ang problema wala sila sang proper documentation, gin-import sila, wala sang stock report. Amo na ang problema sa committee hearing ko, paano sila kapa-register,” Duron added.
The number of tricycles here is currently at 1,092, said Duron, lower than in previous years.
Almost 60 percent have not renewed their franchises, he revealed./PN
