Motorists who will use tricycles and pedicabs in the country’s main thoroughfares can be apprehended by authorities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya clarified that vehicles with sidecars are still prohibited in national highways despite the limited public transport due to community quarantines.
He cited public safety as the reason for the ban.
“Bawal pa rin po talaga ang mga tricycle at pedicabs sa national highways at ang dahilan po dito is for safety,” he said in a virtual press briefing.
(Tricycles and pedicabs are still not allowed in national highways due to safety reasons.)
“Kahit sa panahon po ng pandemya, bawal po ang ating mga tricycle at pedicabs sa mga pangunahing lansangan at national highways,” he added.
(Even though there is a pandemic, tricycles and pedicabs are still not allowed in the national highway.)
Malaya made the clarification after Malacañang on Thursday said vehicles with sidecars can already traverse highways. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque took back the statement on the same day.
The DILG also reiterated its prohibition on motorcycle-backriding despite appeals from sectors due to the limited public transport.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said lifting of the prohibition on back-riding risks public health since it violates physical distancing measures.
“Mahirap na mag gamble na como mag-asawa, pwede sila magdikit sila sa publiko. Sa bahay, wala tayong magagawa. Pero sa publiko, kailangan ipatupad ‘yung physical distancing,” Año said.
(It’s difficult to gamble that just because they are married, they can already be close in public. We can’t do anything about what they do indoors but we have to implement physical distancing in public.)
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