Anti-muffler, colorum campaigns in Kalibo intensified

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Police apprehended 170 motorcycles in the crackdown against modified mufflers by traffic authorities for the first three months in the capital town of Kalibo.

                                                                  PHOTOS KALIBO PNP

Under Municipal Ordinance No. 2016-003, modified and noisy mufflers are confiscated in favor of the local government of Kalibo. Drivers are fined for P2,500 and required to re-install the factory-manufactured mufflers when it was purchased or acquired  before releasing the units.

Data from Kalibo police station showed 91 mufflers were confiscated in the month of February followed by March with 68 and January with 11. The defective mufflers will be destroyed under Section 9 of the ordinance.

To minimize the number of noisy motorcycles, the ordinance also prohibits commercial establishments or stores to install or use any type of modified mufflers or devices. First-time violators will be fined P1,500, P2,500 for second offense and P2,500 plus cancellation of business permit for succeeding violations.

Police also impounded 136 “colorum” tricycles in just three months of operations. As of this month, at least 2,998 tricycles operating in the town of Kalibo have franchises.

Kalibo police disclosed 93 passenger tricycles plying the municipal routes last February while 18 tricycles in January and 25 in March were caught and impounded in the intensive campaign against colorum vehicles.

The apprehended units violated Municipal Ordinance No. 2013-11 and the Municipal Ordinance No 2005-044 or the Traffic Code of the Municipality of Kalibo for carrying passengers without any permits or franchises to operate.

Meanwhile, Kalibo police Chief Inspector Terence Sta. Ana urged the passengers to avoid colorum tricycles and instead ride legitimate tricycles for their own safety.

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.