Traffic exec lobbies trisikad’s regulation

CEBU, Philippines - City Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority chief Mario Zafra said he will coordinate with the barangays to regulate trisikad drivers from plying certain streets.

Zafra said there are trisikad drivers who traverse major roads in the city such the vicinity of Tabunok public market. He added that barangays should designate specific areas where trisikad drivers could pass without competing with jeepneys and other vehicles.

"Dapat ipa-regulate sa kabaranggayan ang trisikad tungod kay naghatag kini og kasamok sa trapiko. Dapat ang mga barangay naa unta’y tanod nga motabang sa pagbadlong sa mga traysikad nga molahos ngadto sa main road kay delikado kini sa disgrasya," Zafra said.

Zafra said the safety of the public is always at stake as long as trisikads are left to traverse major roads along with bigger vehicles.

"Dunay mga traysikad usab ang magpataka lang og parada ug nakahatag na og kasamok sa trapiko," he said, adding that it is visible that the trisikads are parked under the Tabunok bridge.

Zafra also hopes that the Talisay City ordinance that bans slow-moving vehicles without reflectors from using the streets at night will be implemented with the approval from the Cebu Provincial Board.

City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, who pushed for the ordinance, proposed to ban on the streets non-motor vehicles that do not have illuminating devices.

Under the proposed ordinance, trisikad units should be installed with reflectors or battery-powered blinkers on the front and back so they will be seen by others during nighttime.

"A number of traffic accidents [have] caused casualties, collisions or hitting involving trisikad that pass some of our streets during evening. The main cause was trisikads moving our streets in the evening without lights or any indication that these trisikads are there or are passing," Fernandez said.

"All trisikad drivers shall observe this ordinance as one of accident preventions to report immediately to City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority for record purposes once reflectors or blinkers are installed," he added.

Violations will carry corresponding penalties. First-time offenders may claim their confiscated vehicle only upon payment of a P300 fine and presentation of reflector materials to be mounted on the vehicle.

Second-time offenders shall pay a P500 fine and be required to install the reflector on the vehicle, while third-time offenders shall be fined P1,000 or be meted a week-long jail term, or both, at the discretion of the court.

On the fourth violation, the owner of the trisikad shall be ordered cessation and disallowed to operate any trisikad units.  (FREEMAN)