P’sinan mayor hit for allowing trikes on roads

By Leander C. Domingo

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – The mayor who signed an executive order that allows tricycles and pedicabs to pass along national roads here is under fire for allegedly going against a national law, a memorandum circular and an ordinance.
    Mayor Bonafe de Vera Parayno signed executive order 01, dated July 1, 2022, allowing tricycles and pedicab drivers to use the Rizal Avenue national road, a portion of the Pangasinan-La Union highway and a major artery connecting the town to adjoining municipalities.
    However, under the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular 2020-036, all local chief executives are ordered to strictly implement the ban on tricycles, pedicabs and motorized pedicabs on national highways.
    The DILG memorandum circular also ordered creation of a tricycle task force that shall draw up a tricycle route plan in their areas.
    The EO may have also violated Republic Act 4136 or the "Land Transportation and Traffic Code" and the prior DILG memorandum circulars 2007-11, 2011-68 and 2020-004 that also prohibit tricycles and pedicabs on national roads.
    Earlier, the Sangguniang Bayan of Mangaldan passed municipal ordinance 2021-14 prohibiting tricycles and pedicabs to ply along national roads in Mangaldan, particularly on Rizal Avenue.

Parayno has also reportedly ordered police and traffic enforcers in Mangaldan to allow all tricycles, pedicabs and other slow-moving vehicles to pass along the national road.

However, Lt. Col. Arnold Montesa, Mangaldan town chief of police, noted that the Philippine National Police will only enforce existing traffic laws, ordinances and other legal issuances of authorities.

Montesa said because of his stand, the town's leadership reportedly stopped providing fuel allocations and other assistance to Mangaldan PNP.