Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas announced that tricycles from other municipalities would no longer be allowed in the city proper unless they secure a permit from him. The banning of non-Laoag City tricycles was due to the alleged abusive manner in which these public utility vehicles had been hiring within the city limits without permit, causing inconvenience to legal tricycle operators in the city. “Saan mi nga iparit nga umay da ditoy siyudad iti Laoag ngem abusuen da met unayen daytoy kinalukay mi,” Fariñas explained. He added that these tricycles would be allowed to enter the city proper if they would secure a permit from him. To secure a permit, he said the owner or operator of the tricycle concerned should make a letter-request directed to the city mayor indicating the purpose of the vehicles entry to the city, which may be to bring their children to school or other personal reasons. Fariñas added that he would only allow non-Laoag tricycles if, beside the permit, a prominently displayed “not for hire” sign would be posted in front of the tricycle. The mayor further mentioned that for-hire tricycles from other towns entering Laoag may already be considered “out of line”, which is violation of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) rules. According to the LTO, being “out of line” has a penalty of P1,500. Fariñas also explained that permits from the tricycles’ respective Sangguniang Bayan would not be honored in Laoag. In view of this, the Laoag mayor also stressed that they are ready to accept decisions of other local chief executives in cases where Laoag tricycles would enter their respective towns. Dominic B. dela Cruz
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