6 hours ago
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ILOILO CITY — The city government is giving owners of unregistered or colorum tricycles only until June 18 to obtain a franchise.
Transportation and Traffic Management Office (TTMO) head Uldarico Garbanzos said the TTMO will begin apprehending illegally operating tricycles starting June 19.
"This is the first advisory for colorum tricycles that they have only until June 18. This June 18 is to allow them to join a Tricycle Operators and Drivers' Association (TODA) and get their franchise," he said.
WAITING IN LINE Tricycles are parked on the roadside while waiting for passengers in Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, Jaro, Iloilo City, on June 16, 2025. PHOTO BY RJAY ZURIAGA CASTOR
TTMO records show 33 active TODAs in Iloilo City, many of which have raised concern over the presence of unregistered tricycles competing with their members.
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"These colorums compete with the tricycles that are operating legally ... I think we have given enough time for them to process their franchises," Garbanzos said.
He acknowledged, however, that there are gaps in the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) that some unregistered tricycle units currently fill, particularly in late-night operations where transport cooperatives fall short.
"These are the gaps that we have seen. If you trace it up, there are gaps in our LPTRP. There are gaps in our transport cooperatives that they should serve 24/7. The tricycles are the last mile of the trip," he said.
To ensure smooth enforcement, TTMO personnel will undergo an orientation this week on the city's tricycle route plan.
Garbanzos said confiscated units will be impounded either at the TTMO office near the city port or the city's sanitary landfill in Calajunan, Mandurriao, which is being considered as an additional holding area.
He added that the agency remains open to feedback from unregistered tricycle drivers, especially on requests to open routes in underserved areas such as subdivisions.
Meanwhile, the TTMO is also reviving a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating "trisikads (pedicabs)," with plans to integrate them into a unified system along with e-trikes and e-bikes.
