TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Mayor Bienvenido De Guzman, Jr. reported 14 apprehensions against colorum tricycles to add for a total of 85 since the city government started the campaign since January 2016 to the present.
De Guzman said the move is part of a campaign against criminality as these tricycles have been used in the conduct of illegal activities in and out of the city which somehow stained the image of the so-called Premier Ibanag City.
Tuguegarao earned its notorious branding as ‘the city of English-speaking tricycle drivers’ years ago after documented cases on their abuses reached the media.
“Most of these overcharging and abusive drivers belong to only to a small percentage of the tricycle population yet, they take a toll on the image of Tuguegarao,” he said.
Various complaints have reached the city government of drivers who overcharged passengers, choose who to flag down or show arrogance towards commuters.
Records at the Tricycle Regulatory Unit (TRU) of the city showed a registry of 7,802 as against the perceived number at more than 12,000 five years ago.
The city government admitted that some of these tricycles come from the neighboring towns of Solana, Enrile, Iguig and as far as Amulung who ply their trade particularly during the night. Of late, the TRU went on its apprehensions spree supported by the local police.
In an Executive Order, De Guzman ordered the Anti-Colorum Task Force to conduct operations at night where these tricycles are likely to operate.
The city government has slapped P5,000 fine for every apprehension.
TRU said that while a night-service organization among tricycles in the city has been formed to assist the city government to curb the illegal existence of these drivers, the unit will need the vigilance of night shift workers to report such irregularities.
“We won’t stop going after them to clear the city of unregistered tricycles,” the Mayor added. Northernforum.net
