NAGPALABAS ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ng memorandum circular (MC) na humihikayat sa local government units (LGUs) at Philippine National Police (PNP) na ipatupad ang pagbabawal sa tricycles, pedicabs kabilang na ang motorized pedicabs sa kahabaan ng pangunahing lansangan.

Ang DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-195 ay ipinalabas dahil patuloy na nakatatanggap ng ulat ang kagawaran na ang tricycles at pedicabs ay hindi tumitigil sa pamamasada sa national roads na nagiging sanhi ng aksidente.

“These incidents has been a ‘major concern’ for the government, citing that a total of 2,829 road accidents involving bikes/e-bikes/pedicabs occurred in Metro Manila for the year 2022 alone,” ayon sa DILG.

Sa kaparehong report, sinabi ng DILG na 2,241 road accidents ang kinasasangkutan ng tricycles ang naitala.

“Republic Act No. 4138 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code provides safety and precautionary measures to prevent the said incidents by providing restrictions and other traffic mechanisms. Section 9 of the law specifies the permissible weights and dimensions of vehicles, unladen or with load in the highway traffic. The weight and dimension may be updated from time to time as the conditions of the public highways may warrant and the needs service may require,” anang DILG.

Layon ng DILG na ulitin ang regulasyon na nagbabawal sa tricycles mula sa pago-operate o pamamasada sa national roads at tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng tsuper, pasahero at iba pang road users.

(CHRISTIAN DALE)