BACOLOD City – The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) apprehended 50 “colorum” tricycles plying the routes around Barangay Mansilingan in this city.
Task Force Kontra Colorum Tricycle launched operations on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Jose Antonio Robello, deputy officer-in-charge of BTAO, said of the 50 apprehended, seven have no franchise, which is in violation of City Ordinance No. 185 regulating the operations and granting of franchise for motorized tricycles in the city.
“Colorum” tricycles were meted with a P1,500 fine as well as impounding the unit for failure to secure the motorized tricycle operator’s permit (MTOP).
MTOP is issued to a person, natural or juridical, allowing them to operate tricycles for hire in zones specified under the said city ordinance.
Last year, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez issued Executive Order No. 003-2023 that created the task force to address the proliferation of “colorum,” or illegal units, and the increasing number of traffic accidents involving tricycles in this city.
Some 28 tricycle drivers with franchises volunteered to be part of the task force.
The BTAO held an orientation and a refresher course for the 28 volunteers relative to the appropriate and correct conduct and basis of apprehension around the city on Feb. 19.
The course covered topics such as city ordinances and Republic Act 4136 to enlighten the volunteers on what can be considered legal and illegal.
All volunteers present during the refresher course are deemed qualified, and their tasks will run for the whole year.
Robello said the function of the volunteers is only limited to the apprehension of “colorum” tricycles./PN
