Background of the Study

On February 16, 2021 the banning of the tricycle in

National Highways Started the Road Clearing Operation.

Under Memorandum Circulas 2020-036 and 2020-145, there

are two component of validation. The Actual banning of

road obstructions or Road Clearing Operation Component

and also To Follow the banning of tricycles in National

Roads. (Butuan City PIO, 2020) many Tricycle routes

specifically Barangay San Vicente tricycle drivers who

were banned from their usual route in Barangay San

Vicente. “Para sa ako lisud kaayo dawaton kay dli man mi

Colorum unfair pod sa among side. Unlike, sa private

tricycle kay maka agi man sila sa national high way.

Nahimutang rana nga “Orange Tricyle ban kay ang Private

maka agi man.” In the statement, the driver said that the

Private tricycles are allowed to travel on National

Highways. It is unfair for them because their way of

transporting is not illegal but then again they are not

allowed to transport in National High ways. (Please paki

add or rephrase nag lisud ko translate haha thanks).

The government ordered social distancing measures

in public transport as part of efforts to contain the

spread of the corona virus disease. The banning of the

tricycle is much harder for the drivers because it is

under pandemic crisis. According to WHO, informal economy

workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority

lack social protection and access to quality health care

and have lost access to productive assets. Without the

means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable

to feed themselves and their families. For most, no

income means no food, or, at best, less food and less

nutritious food. In Butuan City, one of the common forms

of transportation are tricycles. Tricycle drivers get

paid by commuters which means their income depends on the

number of passengers they transport. According to Lorenzo

2020, most of these tricycle drivers are not covered by

SSS or Phil health, since their operations are not on the

government’s radar. Despite the risk of infection many of

these drivers still continue to drive around and pick up

passengers just to put food on the table. Tricycles are

very affordable and they can transport a person from

locations not covered by jeepney routes. With less

passengers due to social distancing measures and now

prohibited routes how will these tricycle drivers cope

with their current situation? The objective of this study

is to know the effects of the banning of tricycles in

national highways to the tricycle drivers of Barangay San

Vicente and how they cope with this unexpected

implementation.