CEBU, Philippines - To decongest national and local highways and promote wellness among residents in the city, Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong wants all trisikads banned starting next year.
Chiong said he has hatched the plan to the City Council and is optimistic that the body will support it once mechanisms are in place.
He said the plan is for the city to buy the trisikads at P5,000 each, which will cost the city government at least P2.5 million for the 500 units currently operating. The amount will be standard regardless of the unit’s condition, Chiong said.
“P5,000 each to motivate operators to sell their units. Para hinay-hinay nga mawa ang mga trisikad,” he said.
On the aspect of wellness, Chiong contended that the absence of trisikads would encourage residents in the city to walk to short distance destinations, as what residents did so in the past.
“We hope to instill to the public to become health conscious, nga magsige sila og lakaw. Mao na ang pinaka-way gasto nga exercise,” Chiong said.
Furthermore, Chiong said removing trisikads from the streets would also eradicate the presence of units, from other areas, which will decongest traffic.
“Also to eradicate influx of drivers coming from different areas of the city and of course, to decongest traffic,” he said.
Chiong said there are several drivers from neighboring areas who are plying the city’s routes because of the active economic activities there. He did not mind it at first, he said, but the presence of these vehicles have congested the city’s streets, which is dangerous especially that the city’s highways are also being used by bigger vehicles like trucks and buses.
Once the plan materializes, the city will offer trainings to trisikad drivers who wish to learn new skills like welding, and construction work to help them find new jobs./JMO (FREEMAN)