HIGHWAY BAN. A rickshaw, locally called “bao-bao,” sustained damage during a road accident with a motorcycle along the national highway of Barangay Bugo in Cagayan de Oro City sometime in February 2023. On Wednesday (July 26, 2023), the local government moved to reimpose the ban on public transport motorcycles such as rickshaws to decongest traffic flow. (File photo courtesy of CDO-RTA)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government moved to reimpose Wednesday the ban on motorcycle public utility vehicles (PUVs) on national highways to decongest traffic flow during peak hours.
In a statement, the local government said the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) is empowered to enforce the ban through Memorandum Circular No. 2020-036 issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Motorcycle PUVs covered by the ban are modern rickshaws, locally called "bao-bao."
Unlike the classic "motorela," the India-manufactured rickshaws were not subjected to regulations, as their classification fell outside the category of a motorela or a regular motorcycle.
The motorela is a variant of a motorized tricycle predominantly used in Northern Mindanao, particularly in this city and Bukidnon province.
Rickshaws increased in number over time as a result of easy installment plans and affordable prices from distributors.
In 2020, the ban on rickshaws on national highways was implemented, but drivers continue to operate in late evenings when regular PUVs stop plying their routes.
Melvin Erederos, interim president of the Consortium of Mindanao Transport Cooperatives, said the proliferation of unregistered rickshaws is one of their concerns.
"They (members) are no longer running and taking enough passengers at night because these rickshaws are competing with us," he said.
With the reimposition of the ban, RTA chief Nonito Oclarit said they will deploy more personnel to the national highways.
Data gathered by RTA indicated that there are some 450 units of rickshaws in the city without a franchise from the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB), and registration from the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao Director Amenodin Guro said rickshaws are not on the list for franchise application since these vehicles are intended for private use only.
Likewise, the LTO said it is not accepting rickshaws for registration under the PUV classification. (PNA)
