KALIBO, Aklan – The outcry of tricycle operators, drivers and commuters did not fall on deaf ears. Mayor Emerson Lachica ordered the suspension of the traffic rerouting scheme here.
The rerouting dry run, which started on Feb. 15, was supposed to last until Feb. 28.
The suspension takes effect today, Feb. 22. Lachica issued the order on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The rerouting did not sit well with the riding public and tricycle drivers and operators. They denounced the city government’s plan to implement Section 83 of Ordinance 2020-002 or the Transport and Traffic Management Code of Kalibo, Aklan.
Section 83 provides for the routing operations of tricycles within their designated zones. These are supposedly meant to manage traffic in the central portion of Barangay Poblacion.
But critics said the municipal ordinance enacted way back in March 2020 had too many loopholes – a sentiment shared by commuters.
Traffic code proponents in Sangguniang Bayan were lambasted over local radio stations and social media, while cause-oriented groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Kadamay Aklan staged a protest.
In suspending the traffic rerouting, Mayor Lachica pointed to an increase in the operation of colorum or franchise-less tricycles. Apparently, the rerouting limited number of franchised ones plying certain routes.
Lachica also noted the uneven number of franchised tricycles per barangay, and that some tricycle franchise owners were not members of local tricycle operators and drivers associations, thus non-compliant of the routing plan.
The mayor also pointed out the increase in fare as a result of the rerouting which he considered as an additional burden to commuters.
Tricycle associations in Kalibo are clustered into four routes or zones, with Kalibo Poblacion in Route 4 having 1,853 registered tricycles-for-hire.
Fifteen other barangays are plying Route 1 (Tinigaw, Tigayon, Mobo, Linabuan Norte, Tigayon, Estancia), Route 2 (Old Buswang, Bakhaw Sur, New Buswang, Bakhaw Norte), and Route 3 (Pook, Caano, Briones, Mabilo, Andagao, Nalook) with 1,135 tricycles./PN
