MANGALDAN-This town is home to numerous professional and budding cyclists as well as its distinct big-wheeled pedicabs.

But the absence of regulation and the increase in the number of pedicabs, along with motorized tricycles, over the years has contributed to heavy traffic congestion problem, prompted the municipal government to adopt a number coding system for pedicabs starting last month.

“As of April 30, 2008, the total number of registered pedicab is 1,371 while motorized tricycle was 1,282,” said Alfonso Malapit, chief of the Business Tax on Licensing Department.

The number coding system, explained Malapit in an interview with The PUNCH, imposes a schedule for pedicab drivers restricting their operations to specified days.

The local government has also implemented a moratorium in issuance of new licenses while the renewal of existing licenses will be held off for another year.

Within a year, the Business Tax on Licensing will enforce a stricter evaluation system for renewal applications.

An ID system has been implemented as part of the monitoring system to weed out undisciplined drivers.

Drivers will also now be required to submit to laboratory tests by the Municipal Health Center to determine the drivers’ physical fitness.

Reactions to the new policies are mixed.

Ernesto C. Malanum, 40, a pedicab driver, said “Marami sa aking mga kasama naayaw nila (the number coding system), kasi ang hirap sa byahe, sa hanapbuhay namin.”

Malanum said his average daily income now ranges from P100-200, which is barely enough to support his family of four.

However, Mang Ernesto’s friend opined, “Mabuti na yong coding-an nila, maraming abusado eh.”

Some pedicab drivers also complained that the local government has not done enough to stop and arrest colorum drivers who give them unfair competition.—Joan Rachel Reyes, UPB

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments