Filtered By: Topstories
News

Ex-LTFRB exec: Don’t ban trikes as school service; Enforce stricter road rules instead


Instead of prohibiting students from taking a tricycle to school, a lawyer on Saturday urged local governments to come up with stricter road measures to ensure the safety of people riding them.

"There is this argument na hindi safe ang tricycle. Eh bakit natin pinapayagan? Ang hindi safe 'yung pagmamaneho, pagbibiyahe ng tricycle na hindi sumusunod sa regulasyon," lawyer Ariel Inton of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection said at a forum at UP Diliman.

"That I think ang kailangan nating tutukan, not the students. The students have no alternative but to take tricycles, unless meron silang option," he added.

Inton is a former board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

His statement comes as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) banned the use of tricycles as a school service.

Inton said it boils down to the local government on how they will effectively regulate tricycle operation.

"At the end of the day, ang kailangan lang naman natin diyan is safety sa mga estudyante."

Inton expressed likewise with motorcycle taxis applying to become TNVS.

"Wala po kami nakikita na ang isang motorsiklo ay hindi ligtas. Kung hindi ligtas ang motorsiklo dapat hindi na 'yan mina-manufacture, hindi na binebenta 'yan and yet nandiyan sa market. Ang hindi ligtas ay pamamaraan ng pagmamaneho ng mga nagmomotor. Ang hindi ligtas ay 'yung ibang polisiya o absence of policy na inilalagay mo sa panganib 'yung mga nagmo-motor at kanilang pasahero," the lawyer said.

Inton cited that motorcycles have become a "family vehicle" where parents use the vehicles for their children's school service.

Tricycle service ranges from P300 to P700 per month, depending on the distance from home to school, whereas school buses charge from P500 to P4,000 every month.

However, some tricycle drivers carry up to nine passengers in their vehicles.

"I think the better portion is to regulate them and the regulation should be strictly enforced by law enforcement. Banning them is ideal, but can we do that? If we can ban it, then might as well lahat ng motorsiklo sa buong Pilipinas i-ban na. Ano na lang gagamitin ng mga masa?"

"Ang claim namin dito is dapat may regulation. Kung hindi magkakaroon ng regulation, magkakamatayan, maraming mangyayari na violation," Inton said.

‘Motorcycle taxis’

Quezon City 2nd District Representative Winston Castelo, chair of the House committee on Metro Manila Development, also favored the regulation of motorcycle-for-hire or motorcycle taxis as it can generate additional revenue for the government.

"Motorcycle taxis should be allowed, should be regulated, because number one, it will provide alternative sa ating transportation system, faster, cheaper," Castelo said.

"Number two, it will be able to provide alternative livelihood sa mga may-ari ng motorcycles. Number three, it will also increase the revenues, the coffers of the government na puwede nating i-sustain dito sa ‘Build, Build, Build’ program ng ating Presidente," he added. — MDM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT