Kalibo traffic unit warns out of line tricycles
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The Transport and Traffic Management Unit (TTMU) has clarified that no directive was issued to allow tricycle drivers and operators from other towns to enter the major streets of Kalibo except during emergencies.
TTMU head Mary Gay Quimpo said, allowing tricycles from nearby towns of New Washington and Banga to enter the town of Kalibo would violate the “out of line” provision specified in Municipal Ordinance No. 2005-044.
“"So far, we are still in the process of evaluating with the TTMU and the Office of the Mayor the petition of tricycle groups from New Washington and Banga that would permit them to utilize the parking terminal in San Lorenzo Road in Kalibo,"” Quimpo stressed.
She said, the Kalibo PNP has been directed to check the entry of tricycles from other towns and apprehend them for “out of line” violations. Any violator caught will be fined P1, 000 as provided by the municipal ordinance if he enters the town of Kalibo to load or unload passengers.

“"Only during emergencies or the transport of perishable goods and agricultural crops does the TTMU allow the entry of tricycles from these towns,"” Quimpo pointed out.
TTMU was created to address more efficiently and effectively the traffic problems here, and to enforce a better system of traffic control and management under the Office of the Mayor.
It is also the sole management unit tasked to enforce traffic management plans and programs through the Traffic Engineering headed by Engr. Amalia Francisco, Traffic Enforcement by SPO1 Rueul Matorres and the Facilities Management section by Noel de la Cruz.
Earlier, tricycle groups from Andagao, Nalook, Pook, Briones and Mabilo decried the re-routing scheme. They said it lessened their number of passengers, thereby lowering their earnings, but, Quimpo said the traffic ordinance would help to decongest the heavy volume of traffic inside Brgy. Poblacion.
The re-routing scheme applies to all tricycles in Route 1 (Linabuan Norte, Tigayon, Estancia, Tinigao, Mobo), Route 2 (New Buswang, Old Buswang, Bakhaw Norte and Bakhaw Sur), Route 3 (Mabilo, Briones, Nalook, Caano, Pook, Andagao) and Route 4 (Poblacion).
The rerouting "dry run" of tricycles was implemented on May 1, however, this was temporarily shelved after commuters and tricycle drivers were disgusted of the limited access of tricycles to municipal roads situated within Brgy. Poblacion.