AFTER being sidelined for two weeks due to the crackdown launched since Feb. 17 by the city government, owners of colorum tricycles trooped to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Feb. 24 and appealed that they be issued a franchise by the city to operate only at night.

Headed by Pol Hidalgo, president of the Dagupan City Colorum Tricycle Association, the group said their members numbering some 100 have lost their source of livelihood.

There are only 2,500 available tricycle franchises in Dagupan and all have already been issued. Those without franchise, considered colorum, are apprehended.

Councilor Marvin Fabia, chairman on public utilities, said a consultation with owners of franchised tricycles, members of the riding public and the business community must be done to consider the new request of the owners of colorum tricycles.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, a lawyer,  said  the number of franchises to be issued is dependent on the actual needs of the city while Councilor Alfie Fernandez, another lawyer,  said the suggestion of owners of colorum tricycles is worth studying.

Councilor Karlos Reyna said a study is needed to find out if additional tricycle franchises in Dagupan is still viable.

On the other hand, Councilor Alvin Coquia said an inventory must be undertaken first to determine how many colorum tricycles  there really are in the city, rejecting  calls that new 1,000 franchises  be issued.

Councilor Lino Fernandez, Liga ng mga Barangay president, said in his village of Lucao, the fourth biggest barangaty in the city, there are only 34 colorum tricycles.

CRACKDOWN STANDS

Meanwhile, the crackdown against colorum tricycles as ordered by Mayor Belen Fernandez remains to decongest traffic volume in the city, particularly  in the downtown area.

The crackdown was timed with the conduct of a traffic experiment involving the designation of several loading and unloading areas for specific jeepney routes, including those coming from outside Dagupan City.

The traffic experiment has gained public support since the improvement in vehicular flow around the city has visibly improved.

Retired SPO4 Carlito Ocampo, head of the City Assistance Service Team (CAST) and appointed head of Task Force  vs. Colorum Tricycle, said  the mayor ordered the crackdown of colorum tricycles because aside from congesting traffic, they also pose great risk to commuters since they are not covered by any insurance and protection.

He said until they are granted a franchise through an ordinance that would be passed  by the SP, they will continue to be apprehended if they commute passengers either at day time or at night.

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