Biblical Scripture Ordinance Helps Make Filipino City Happier and Safer

Tricycles in Tagbilaran City, Philippines

Twenty-two years ago officials of Tagbilaran City, Philippines passed an ordinance that binds all backs of tricycles to be painted with Biblical Scriptures. It states any operator who gets caught without Biblical messages is either fined or has their license cancelled.

The three-wheeled, no-ordinary "taxis" are the city's main and most reliable mode of transportation. "It can get you to any part of the island. It's cheap and you can fit between four and seven people at one time," Dennis Cantina said to CBN News.

Many drivers and passengers shared with CBN News that tricycles used to be seen with obscene images and messages but the city ordinance changed that.

Lucille Lagunay, a city councilor told them, "With a Biblical message at the back of the units commuters get to see the message everyday and it helps in way to preserve the peace in our city."

"Everyday commuters get to see the biblical messages on the tricycles and who would want to think of crime when they see biblical passages everywhere."

The painted scripture at the back of the tricycle has resulted in making their city more peaceful, has built stronger family ties, and helped lower crime rates according to the report.

Samuel Belderol has been handing out tricycle licenses along with Bible Scriptures to drivers for the last 20 years. He said that they only issue 3,000 licenses every year and each one must have a verse that's different from other operators. The Bible verse then will be painted by Mr. Buala, who has been doing the work for 20 years.

"I love the scriptures. As I paint them on the tricycles I also get inspired by them. This is the Word of God and it gives us guidance," Buala Siongiex said.

"This is the only city in the Philippines that has such an ordinance. We want the world to know that we are a God-fearing city and that these Bible verses help us draw closer to God," Belderol stated to CBN.