Mayor stops confiscation of modified tricycles

By Jereco O. Paloma

Monday, June 25, 2012

THE City Government of Davao has declared a one-month moratorium on operations against all forms of modified motorized vehicles plying major thoroughfares in the city.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in her weekly press briefing at her office Monday, told reporters that the moratorium also covers "payong-payong" and "habal-habal" along with electronic vehicles or e-vehicles.

The mayor said apprehension and confiscation of all these types of modified motorized vehicles may not be the right solution to the city's problem on unregistered tricycles plying the city's main roads even in the broad daylight.

"Taga-i lang mi ug (Just give us) time to look for solutions because I just do not think that ang dakop is the solution to the problem," Duterte-Carpio said.

During the same briefing, the mayor has asked Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), to temporarily suspend their operations against the payong-payong and the habal-habal.

The moratorium took effect starting yesterday, Monday.

While the moratorium is in effect, the mayor said, the city, along with other agencies of the City Government will look for possible long-term solutions to the problem.

"Ang dakop man gud, dili man gud nila ma sustain, unless mang dakop sila taga adlaw (They cannot sustain apprehension unless they will do it every day). It has to be a sustainable solution," the mayor added.

Duterte-Carpio said she is yet to talk to the officer who is in charge of the unit under the City Legal Office that regulates the issuance of franchises to motor-powered vehicles in the city.

"If we cannot find a solution to the problem within one month, then they can do whatever they want," she said.

The mayor added she has already met with key persons at the City Hall regarding the model on how to solve the problem but that was all in verbal form.

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