House OKs magna carta for tricycle sector
Facade of the House of Representatives. | PHOTO: Official website of the House of Representatives / congress.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved on the third and final reading the magna carta for tricycle drivers and operators.
In Wednesday’s plenary session, 180 congressmen unanimously approved House Bill No. 11227, a consolidation of six bills, that defines the rights of workers in the tricycle sector and provides enforcement and protection mechanisms for the tricycle sector as well as public and environmental safety.
While it reaffirms the power of local governments to regulate tricycles and issue permits to operators, it also lays out the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Operating requirements
The bill specifies requirements for operating tricycles, including routes, eligibility of drivers, and vehicle roadworthiness, to ensure overall efficiency, integration, and safety of tricycles as modes of public transportation.
It also tasks the DoTr, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry to encourage the manufacture of more efficient engines and cleaner technologies.
Article continues after this advertisementBut Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, who voted to approve the bill, expressed reservations and cautioned that the inclusion of a provision on the “phase-in of more efficient engines” could ultimately violate the rights of tricycle drivers and operators.
Article continues after this advertisement“Although we recognize the rights being protected by this proposed measure for tricycle drivers and operators, there’s a hidden danger through the phase-in of more efficient engines,” he said.
According to him, this may lead to the forced phaseout of many tricycle units that do not comply with the guidelines set by the government and the forced purchase of new units that comply with efficient and green standards.
He added that the “phase-in component” of the bill could be used to create a local market where other countries, particularly the United States and China, could dump their surplus electric vehicles and profit from the country’s tricycle ecosystem.
