Manila Mayor Erap eyes removing 'kuliglig' engines, regulating pedicab ops

After removing rogue colorum buses from its roads, the Manila city government is planning to remove the noisy engines from the "kuligligs" (motorized tricycles) plying routes in the city.

 

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the "kuligligs" had been darting in and out of the city's streets and had been linked to several road accidents.

 

"Kung saan-saan sumusulpot eh. (Sila) nagiging sanhi ng aksidente (They had been darting in and out of streets and have been linked to so many road accidents)," Estrada said, according to a report on dzBB radio Wednesday.

 

He said they are planning to have the motorized tricycles' engines removed and having the vehicles classified as pedicabs.

 

The city government also plans to map out streets where the pedicabs can ply routes.

 

City vice mayor and traffic czar Francisco Domagoso (Isko Moreno) said they will confiscate the engines and place the vehicles under "regulation."

 

"Ibabalik namin sila sa kalye as pedicabs but regulated (We will allow them to return to the streets after removing their engines but they will be regulated)," he said.

 

The dzBB report said many kuliglig operators were dismayed over the city government's plans, with some saying they are considering going to other kinds of work.

 

Kuligligs had been criticized for their noisy engines and some drivers' penchant for disregarding traffic rules.

 

Former Mayor Alfredo Lim tried to get them off Manila's main streets in late 2010, but the operators and drivers staged a massive protest near City Hall.  — ELR, GMA News