The Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO) on Tuesday, June 18, warned “colorum” tricycles of the strict enforcement of the Tricycle Franchising and Regulation Ordinance in Iloilo City effective June 19.

Colorum refers to a private vehicle operated for public utility without a valid and existing special permit, provisional authority or franchise as defined in Section 2 of the ordinance.

“We have dedicated personnel with motorcycles complemented by our enforcement and clearing team. Randomly and (intelligence)-driven operations, they will be initiating the intensification of the anti-colorum operations in Iloilo City,” Uldarico Garbanzos, head of POSMO and Traffic and Transport Management Office, said in a press conference.

Among the salient points of the ordinance is the establishment of the tricycle route plan (RTP), which has identified 33 routes, 35 Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Associations (TODAs) and 2,267 franchises.

Currently, 1,580 tricycles have secured their franchises, while over 100 are pending inspection.

Garbanzos said the TRP has identified fixed routes.

“So, tricycles are limited to their specific routes. Otherwise, they will be charged for an out-of-route violation,” he said.

He encouraged colorum vehicles to apply for the remaining units, emphasizing that they will impound tricycles without franchises even if they are members of a TODA.

“This is a stern warning and a final advisory. To avoid inconvenience and for their operation to be legal, they are encouraged to apply,” he said.

Those with pending applications will not be apprehended as long as they can present a certification.

A penalty of not less than P1,000 will be meted for drivers who operate without a valid franchise and motorized tricycle operators permit; incur default payment of fees and penalties for violation of traffic rules and regulations; operate on highways without valid authorization; and operate without complying with the operating requirements mandated by the ordinance.

Tricycles without franchise, without a requisite or fictitious motorized tricycle operator’s permit (MTOP), not road worthy, and violating environmental laws will be impounded and charged with an impounding fee of P500.PNA