It was what every tricycle driver had come to hear and they applauded heartily as Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria voiced his opposition last Thursday to the implementation of a law prohibiting tricycles from plying on the national roads of the City.
“Dili ko mosugot. Dili kana pwede. Kinahanglan, win-win solution (I will not agree. That is not possible. What we need is a win-win solution),” Sagarbarria said during a public consultation held at the Robinson’s Mall Dumaguete, in the presence of top officials of the Land Transportation Office.
The consultation was spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (NOCCI) with support from the Afos Foundation.
The Mayor stressed the need to find solutions to the problems of the stakeholders, saying “there is a solution for every problem.”
The move to implement a law banning tricycles from the national highway was initiated by a group of multicab drivers plying between Dumaguete and the towns of Sibulan and Bacong after they noted the unfair competition posed by tricycles.
Dumaguete Councilor Nilo Sayson said that under the arrangement, Sibulan or Bacong tricycles who bring their passengers into Dumaguete may not carry passengers on their way back. But Sayson said that this agreement is not being observed. “Daghan kaayo ang badlungon. Surrender na ko (there are many hard-headed drivers. I surrender.),” he remarked in exasperation.
Aside from the undue competition with the multicabs and jeepneys, the tricycles have also been blamed for traffic congestion in Dumaguete.
Sagarbarria said that while he knows that the law prohibits tricycles from the roads, we have to also consider that these tricycle drivers are just trying to earn a living.
Tricycle drivers from Dumaguete, who attended the forum, said they stand to lose a lot if they will be denied the use of the national highways, like Real St, which is beside the public market.
Sagarbarria said that while he is against the idea of banning tricycles from the Dumaguete national roads, he is leaving it to the Land Transportation Office to work out an arrangement with the tricycle drivers.
Sagarbarria was discussing his stand with LTO Law Enforcement Service Chief Edgar Cabase and LTO Dumaguete Chief Roland Ramos while the program was going on. It was already resolved when it became the Mayor’s turn to speak.
“Laws are made for men; not men for the laws,” Cabase said, adding that he is leaving it to Ramos to work with the tricycle drivers to come up with the “win-win solution.” Ramos, for his part, said he will be calling for meetings with tricycle drivers “very soon.” But he also said that he will not allow tricycles from Sibulan and Bacong to enter Dumaguete. Likewise, Dumaguete tricycles will also be banned from taking passengers beyond the City limit, to include the airport.
Cabase said any agreement between two mayors to allow their tricycles to enter each other’s territory is illegal. “It cannot be a subject of compromise — the law is clear on that.”
