ASSOCIATION of Barangay Captains President Noli Villarosa said the operation of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) against colorum (unregistered) tricycles is selective.
Villarosa reacted after BTAO personnel impounded several colorum tricycles yesterday in the area of Barangay Tangub, where he is the village chief.
Villarosa said Superintendent Luisito Acebuche, head of BTAO, failed to coordinate with him.
“Acebuche is only using the name of Mayor Evelio Leonardia when they will impound the illegal tricycles in my barangay. They have a list of barangays that are against the present administration,” he added.
“He is destroying the name of the mayor because the city mayor doesn't know their operation. They should inform the mayor first before they operate,” he added. “Acebuche is unprofessional because he's operating here without my consent. I am a councilor and a leader of this barangay.”
Villarosa said that all programs or activities within his area of jurisdiction should have approval from barangay officials.
For his part, Acebuche denied that the BTAO is being selective in their operations since they already impounded more than 150 colorum tricycles in various areas.
Moreover, Villarosa said that Acebuche should notify them and the motorcycle drivers so that they could comply with what is legal as he admitted that most of the tricycle associations in Barangay Tangub are illegal.
Only the Ramylu Woodstock San Roque Tricycle Driver Association has a franchise to operate in the barangay.
Villarosa recommended to Acebuche to have a meeting with the tricycle driver associations so that they will not be fined.
Eduardo Mendoza, a member of Barangay Tangub Drivers Association, admitted that they are operating illegally because they don’t have a franchise.
Mendoza said last year, they requested Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairperson of committee on transportation, to amend their association so that they can get a franchise to operate.
