Opposition Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. during the Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod last January 22 questioned the apparent inconsistencies on the city’s implementation of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Advisory No. 2019 – 0016 dated January 29, 2019, which bans tricycles and pedicabs along National Highways.
Section 10 of Presidential Letter of Instructions No. 1482, Series of 1985, which is the basis of the DILG advisory, states that tricycles “are prohibited to operate along the national highway or on any road which allows maximum speed of more than 40 KPH, especially on well paved, high speed roads, unless special tricycles/bicycles lanes on the shoulder are provided, except to cross.”
However, Lazatin said the new ordinance codifying the New Traffic Rules and Regulations in Angeles City includes a section to address this prohibition.
Section 37.a. of Ordinance No. 423, Series of 2017, states that a “dedicated lane for all two (2) and three (3)- wheel vehicles and other slow moving vehicle shall always be on the rightmost moving lane, in cases of multiple-lane roads with 2 or more lanes on each direction.”
Members of FEDTODA trooped to the session hall to air their sentiments as many tricycle drivers are being apprehended for violating the ban on national highway despite the presence of a local ordinance that allows them to traverse national highway.
Antolin Tinio, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Angeles City Traffic Division Offices (ACTDO however denied it.
Addressing Tinio, Lazatin expressed dismay over the ACTDO OIC’s apparent lack of information on how the ACTDO is implementing the said ordinance.
“Ang ibig niyo po bang sabihin, hindi ninyo alam ang nangyayare sa inyong opisina. Sinasabi niyo walang hinuhuli pero marami sa ating mga kasamahan sa FEDTODA ang nagsasabing hinuhuli sila ng mga enforcers ng ACTDO sa violation na ito,” Lazatin argued.
He also pointed out that Tinio issued a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno confirming that ACTDO has started implementing the DILG advisory.
Lazatin also added that there is no issue with the ACTDO complying with the advisory of the DILG, but there should be clear implementing rules and regulations for the traffic enforcers and tricycle operators and drivers to avoid wrongful arrests and confusion.