THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been urged to regulate prices of bicycles and small motorcycles, which are becoming popular as a means of transportation among low- and middle-income Filipinos.
The call came from Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo, vice chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development.
She said the lack of public transportation amid the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many families to use bikes and motorbikes to go to their workplaces or to the grocery to buy household essentials.
“Thus, the government, through the DTI, should intervene to protect the public. The DTI should regulate prices of bicycles and small motorbikes and their parts. The Executive branch has such power under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law,” Castelo said.
She added that the DTI should also watch for signs of hoarding and price manipulation.
Castelo also urged the government to promote the use of bikes as a means of transportation during and after the general community quarantine (GCQ), and to designate bike lanes at least in major roads in Metro Manila and the provinces.
She appealed to employers to provide rest and shower facilities and parking spaces to their personnel-bikers.
Castelo said employers, banks and even the DTI and other concerned agencies could offer soft loans to workers so they can buy bicycles and small motorcycles.
She noted that some local government units in Metro Manila have already started promoting the use of bikes and have assigned bike lanes in some major roads.
Moratorium
Amid the pandemic, an environmental watchdog, meanwhile, appealed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to immediately implement a nationwide moratorium on the registration of electric bicycles (E-sikleta) at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) President and past president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Atty. Leo O. Olarte, MD, said that they requested DOTr for an immediate moratorium on LTO’s Administrative Order -2006-01 covering electric bicycles and other electric vehicles to register (under the Land Transportation Code) at the LTO. This further requires that electric vehicles must also be operated with a license.
“The moratorium on electric bicycles that we are asking must immediately take effect during the state of public health emergency [declared by President Duterte] to allow our work force to use an alternative, affordable, clean, social or physical distancing compliant mode of transportation as they go to work and home in the new normal. We launched our One Million Electric Bicycles Project for the New Normal Philippines for three reasons: 1) to push for our clean air agenda, 2) the immediate economic recovery of the Philippines, and 3) to help win the war versus Covid-19 by applying strict social distancing modality in transporting our work force to their jobs nationwide, “ Dr. Olarte said.
“Due to its zero carbon emmission advantage we have long advocated for an effective and sustainable electricity-driven transportation system for the Philippines. Our common clean air agenda and goals mandate this action. The sufferings and immense pain that Covid-19 caused our country and people are enormous and devastating however, the lockdowns on the other hand also resulted to cleaner air in our cities,” he said.
Image credits: Roy Domingo and Nonoy Lacza
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