Crack down overloading of tricycle drivers, says DoT-Boracay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has urged the local government of Malay to strictly enforce the ordinance limiting the number of passengers per tricycle trip in the island of Boracay.  

Artemio Ticar, DoT Boracay officer-in-charge, said the spate of accidents in the road had something to do with overloading.  

Ticar said allowing passengers to load or pick up passengers in maximum capacity is not only a public hazard but a violation of Municipal Ordinance 109, series of 1997.

Under this ordinance, tricycles for hire plying in Boracay Island are allowed as much as six passengers in every trip. 

“Hindi kasi maganda na pababayaan natin ang safety ng mga guests in exchange of money. Kahit anong mode of transportation basta walang overloading at safe ang mga guests, yun ang concern ng DoT office,” Ticar said.

The tourism officer also took the issue on erring and hard-headed tricycle drivers in Boracay Island that despite repeated warnings and the intensified campaign, they continue to defy the municipal ordinance.

“Some of the undisciplined drivers are in Boracay, pera kasi ang palaging nasa isip at balewala ang safety ng mga pasahero,” Ticar stressed.

In a separate interview, Cesar Oczon, Jr. of Malay Transportation Office (MTO) said the tricycle drivers, from time to time, are apprehended in violation of traffic laws.

Oczon reminded drivers of tricycles it will act accordingly if they violate the ordinance. Tricycle drivers caught for overloading are fined P2,500 by the traffic officers under Section 5 of Municipal Ordinance 109, series of 1997. 

Reports that some foreigners were even allowed riding on top of the roofs of tricycles or cling outside the vehicles were also regulated by MTO, he added.