Two groups of multicab drivers and operators have filed a joint petition before the Land Transportation Office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, to prohibit tricycles from plying the national highway.

The Jitney Operators and Drivers Association Inc. and the Bacong Easy Ride Operators and Drivers Association are seeking the strict enforcement of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, and Department of Interior and Local Government Circulars 2007-01 and 2011-68, that ban tricycles and pedicabs for hire along the national highways.

The more than 250 petitioners said they hold franchises for the operation of four-wheel multicabs, or easy rides, plying the routes of the Dumaguete-Sibulan and the Dumaguete-Bacong.

In their six-page petition to LTO Dumaguete chief Roland Ramos, the petitioners claimed that several tricycles and pedicabs are plying the national highways without franchises, that they said, are open, notorious and criminal violations of RA 4136 and the DILG memorandum circulars.

They added that, despite their illegal operations, drivers of colorum units even harass legally operated multi-cabs and easy rides.

“Perhaps, this is an offshoot of the devolution of the authority to regulate these kinds of vehicles to local government units where many, if not all, are politically connected, making drivers of tricycles bigheaded and not disciplined as a result of political patronage,” the petition said.

JODAI and BERODA members said the situation could no longer be tolerated as it is gradually becoming dangerous to public safety and welfare, and has affected the income of legally-operating drivers and operators.

The petitioners also asked if local government units concerned are willing to shoulder the expenses if accidents happen at the national highways because of tricycles operating without insurance coverage.*JG

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