Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday urged local government units to strictly enforce the prohibition of tricycles and pedicabs on national highways.
Abalos issued the statement following an accident involving a tricycle and a passenger bus on a national highway in Labo, Camarines Norte on February 4.
"Unfortunately, many LGUs have not been strictly implementing such regulations which often result in traffic congestion and accidents," Abalos said, noting that while tricycles and pedicabs provide accessible and affordable modes of transportation, the safety of the riding public must not be set aside.
Abalos cited several directives prohibiting tricycles and pedicabs on national highways, including DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-036 issued in February 2020 and Memorandum Circular No. 2020-145, which reiterated the previous order.
Memorandum Circular 2023-195 was also released for the reorganization of the Tricycle Task Force and Tricycle Route Plan of each LGU.
In cases where there are no alternative routes available, the LGU through its local legislative body could issue an exception.
Data from Metro Manila Accident and Reporting System said that in 2022 alone, 2,829 road accidents were recorded involving bikes, e-bikes and pedicabs.
A total of 2,241 accidents involving tricycles were recorded during the same period.
Source: Manila Times