Tricycle drivers and operators may soon enjoy social insurance programs and health benefits provided by the government once a bill authored by Sen. Grace Poe is enacted into law.
Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said Congress still has time to approve the measure when it resumes session after the May elections. Congress is currently on recess.
“For this purpose, sisikapin nating maipasa ito bago matapos ang 17th Congress kasi may panahon pa naman kami,” Poe said after her panel approved in principle Senate Bill 1751 or the proposed Magna Carta for Tricycle Drivers and Operators that she also authored.
Poe’s panel held a hearing on the bill on Friday, March 1 at this city dubbed the “Tricycle Capital of the Philippines.” Sen. Nancy Binay also attended the public hearing.
Under the bill, state-run firms Social Security System and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will provide mandatory coverage to tricycle drivers and operators to enable them to access social security and health care benefits.
The proposed legislation also mandates local governments to establish a simplified registration process and a one-stop shop that will handle all tricycle transactions for them to operate.
The bill provides tricycle maintenance programs, vocational education on auto mechanics to widen drivers’ skills and alternative livelihood and skills-training programs for the sector. It also prohibits impounding of tricycle on minor traffic violations.
“Ang tricycle drivers at operators ay inaasahang magiging mas maingat at maalam sa pagmamaneho at pagpapasada sapagkat magkakaroon ng orientation patungkol sa traffic management and rules,” said Poe.
As of 2012, there were 658,675 tricycles for hire nationwide or 67.9 percent of the total vehicle for hire population.
Binay, for her part, said stakeholders should institute “protective measures to minimize the dangers to drivers and passengers.”
A counterpart measure, House Bill 9073 authored by Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna “Ria” Vergara (3rd district), had been approved on second reading.
Vergara said if the bill hurdles Congress, it will be her first measure that could become a law. “All tricycle drivers not only in Cabanatuan but in the entire country will greatly benefit.”
Poe reminded drivers and operators that the safety of passengers is paramount. “Nais po nating ipaalala sa lahat, basta po tungkol sa transportasyon, kaligtasan ng mga pasahero ang ating number one priority, kailangan po nating magtulungan upang makamit ito.”
