Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto asked the national officials on Wednesday to exempt tricycles from the ban on public transportation due to the enhanced community quarantine implemented in Luzon to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

Sotto said in a Facebook post “Sana makita po ng mga ginagalang nating lider na may perspektibo kami sa local government unit na maaaring ‘di nakikita mula sa mas mataas,”

“I am not yet even considering the social and economic effects of prohibiting tricycles. We are talking about the potential damage to public health and a possible loss of lives.”

Sotto wishes to allowed tricycles in Pasig to routes to transport the health workers and emergency patients to the hospitals in Pasig.

According to the Mayor, the tricycle trips would be subject to protocols that were set by local authorities like the number of passengers per vehicle will be limited inconsistently with the social distancing rules.

Malacanang emphasizes that tricycles were among the modes of public transportation that’ll be banned during the enhanced community quarantine.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a briefing that “All public transportation is not allowed to operate such as tricycles, pedicabs, taxis, Grab, jeepneys, buses, including MRT and LRT,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a televised briefing.

The only exempted from the travel restrictions under the community quarantine is the Medical and non-medical hospital workers, as well as those in the vital services sector, but getting to work remained a challenge as the operations of the mass transportation system had been suspended. 

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