Officials worry about mushrooming of ‘tri cabs’

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

OFFICIALS here yesterday sounded alarm bells over the proliferation of “tri-cabs” even as they agreed on the need to ban these vehicles on the highway.

Land Transportation Office regional director Oscar Salcedo said called on the city council’s public utilities committee to propose an ordinance that would regulate the operations of this kind of vehicle.

He said that as far as the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board are concerned, “tri-cabs” cannot legally be operated on highways and national roads.

“Dili kini sila pwede sa LTFRB because these cannot be considered as four-wheeled vehicles,” said Salcedo, adding that the relatively slow-moving vehicles pose dangers.

He added: “The illegal operation of the tri-cab can be controlled by the local government units. This can be regulated og dili na kini ipadagan from barangays Bugo to Gusa.”

Salcedo said “tri-cabs” have been used as public transportation without the green light of the LTO and LTFRB. Neither do these have permits from city hall, he said.

“Sige kami og dakop hangtud karon og walay pasayloay. Kung ma-organize kini sila mahatagan kini sila og control,” he said.

Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., chairman of the council’s public utilities committee, also expressed alarm over the proliferation of “tri-cabs,” noting that these vehicles pose dangers on the highway especially at night.

Lao said he asked the Roads and Traffic Administration to submit its data about the “tri-cabs” in the city.

“Naay disgrasya ani nga bisan hinay kaayo ang bangga daghan nahimo og casualty. Nabangaan sila along the national highway, and we considered nga dili kini siya safe nga sakyanan,” Lao said.

He said city hall can give “tri-cab” owners franchises but their operations have to be carefully studied and regulated.