Tabuk City holds dry run on tricycle hi-way ban

By Larry T. Lopez

CITY  OF TABUK, Kalinga,  March  9 (PIA) –The city holds a dry-run on Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Circular 2020-036 restricting tricycles, motorcycles and pedicabs on national highways.

 Mayor Darwin C. Estranero said the dry run  which  started  on Monday(March 8)  until Friday, seeks to establish the gaps for the smooth implementation of the order.

 The DILG issued the order last year to ensure safe and orderly flow of traffic in the country’s major thoroughfares. It  encourages  local government units to draft road route plans designating routes for these types of vehicles.

The city government convened barangay officials and tricycle operators  to   gather their inputs  as this directive  has  impact to the local tricycle industry.

It was  proposed that  tricycles, pedicabs, motorcycles and umbaks (motorcycle-powered small jeepney type) may temporarily use the highway outer lanes while a city tricycle route plan is formulated.

However, DILG Provincial Director Mayer Adong explained that  the city-LGU needs to seek a provisional exemption from the Land Transportation Office allowing the temporary use of the highway outer lane for this type of vehicles. The exemption should also contain that franchised tricycles may traverse a national highway where there is no other alternative route.

Meanwhile,  Estrañero  issued Executive Order  No. 13 creating the Tabuk City Traffic Management Council  to focus  on implementing  plans  in order to reduce road accidents in the city, mostly involving motorcycles.(JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)