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| Tacloban City's TOMECO clarifies that three-wheeled vehicles can still pass through Real Street, except during rush hours. |
TACLOBAN CITY – This city's Traffic Operations and Management and Enforcement Control Office (TOMECO) has banned three-wheeled vehicles during rush hours to prevent accidents on Real Street.
The ban applies from 7-9 a.m. to 4-7 p.m. on weekdays. During these hours, motorcycle cabs for hire (MCH), e-trikes, and pedicabs are not allowed to pass through Real Street, a national road.
Engr. Garry Soriano, the Head of TOMECO, stated that the ban aims to prevent accidents during rush hours and manage vehicle flow as Real Street is a one-way road. The ban is based on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2020-036, which prohibits tricycles, pedicabs, and motorized pedicabs from operating on national highways.
The memorandum circular mandates barangay, municipal, city, or provincial officials to strictly enforce the ban in their respective areas. Violators will face penalties, including impounding vehicles, fines, and suspension or revocation of their franchise or permit to operate.
However, due to humanitarian concerns, three-wheeled vehicles are permitted to use the Maharlika Highway, but only on the outermost lane, which is reserved for slower-moving vehicles.
The ban aims to ensure road safety and minimize the risk of accidents on Real Street, which has seen increasing vehicular accidents involving three-wheeled vehicles. —iTacloban (Source: CIO)