84 percent of country's population dependent on tricycles
Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines President Jesse Cruz
(right) emphasizes the need to explore basic policy
guidelines, strategies and programs that will generate
positive impact for sustainable tricycle operation, during a
press conference held during the opening of the First
National Conference on Tricycle Transportation Development
at Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City. Also in photo are (from left)
Nozaki Seiki of JICA, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, and
DILG Undersecretary Wencelito T. Andanar. (PIA 6)
About 84percent of the country's population is estimated to be dependent on tricycles for their transportation services, Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines National President Jesse Cruz said at the opening of the First National Conference on Tricycle Transportation Development currently held at Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City.
He said that more than 1.5 million families are likewise dependent on tricycles for their livelihood and that the conduct of the First National Conference on Tricycle Transportation Development will explore issues and future directions for the upliftment of the lives of those who are dependent on this sector.
With the passage of the Local Government Code in 1992, Cruz said, many aspects of governance have been devolved to the Local Government Units. And one of the devolved powers is the franchising and regulating authority of local Sanggunian concerning local transportation.
Cruz further said that the conference will provide opportunities to explore ways to understand the social, political and technical issues surrounding the tricycle operation and to come up with ways and means to improve the health, environmental situations and the quality of life of the people without jeopardizing the livelihood of the people in the tricycle sector.
Around 800 participants consisting government officials from local government units, regulatory and franchising officers, tricycle, motorcycle and pedicab association officials, NGOs, academe and student sector and other private sector firms attended the conference.
Gracing the opening program were Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who is also the League of City Mayors of the Philippines President; DILG Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar, Ms. Zenaida Gonzaga of the Department of Energy, Mr. Jose Dulce of the USAID and Nozaki Seiki of JICA, among others.
(T.Villavert/PIA)