TABUK CITY, Kalinga – At a meeting on April 29, the City Traffic Management Council recommended “colorum” drivers and tricycle owners to obtain a franchise and register with the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA).
Obtaining a tricycle franchise is critical since it allows permission to operate a tricycle on specific routes.
The Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) reports 429 tricycle franchise renewals, 1,470 new franchises, and 61 new franchise applications seeking clearance from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
As of this month, the BPLO has issued 201 new tricycle permits and processed 928 renewal permits. Pierre Galicia, the BPLO’s head, highlighted that some tricycle drivers continue to operate on the routes without legal authorization. Because of this malpractice, the colorum, a term for illegal public transportation or operating without a franchise permit, has become a source of concern for public transportation.
City Councilor Marc Rainier Duguiang, chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, who presided over the meeting, wants to regulate and eliminate colorum tricycles for the safety of passengers.
In an interview with Public Order and Safety Officer Engr. Domingo Burcio, he says that while the city government acknowledges that this tricycle operation might be some owners/drivers only means of livelihood, it is still illegal because of the absence of permits. Authorities will impound the tricycle unit upon apprehension. Passengers cannot pursue the driver/operator in case of an accident or incident.
He estimated that 70-75% of tricycle drivers in the area hold franchises. However, drivers from other municipalities who do not have a franchise cannot transport people here; otherwise, they will be apprehended.
Colorum tricycle unit owners should prepare their Certificate of Registration, driver’s license, and cedula as part of the registration process. By Darwin Serion
