PUJ drivers to city government: What about us?

CEBU, Philippines — A leader of a group of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) has called on the Cebu City government to consider giving them assistance and not just the habalhabal drivers affected by the Supreme Court decision invalidating the operations of Angkas.

While Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON)-Cebu supports the city’s move to give rice subsidy to 6,000 motorcycle-for-hire drivers, its president, Greg Perez, said there are several jeepney drivers affected by the series of apprehension by the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT).

I-ACT, an interagency traffic body, was officially launched in Cebu last month upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte. The body, which cracks down on erring drivers,  among others, is composed of Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and various local government units in Cebu.

“Nindot man gyud na nga lakang sa syudad nga mohatag og bugas bisag mahurot ra na, pero dako na kaayo na’g tabang sa mga habalhabal drivers. Ang akoa lang, maayo pod unta og tabangan nila ang mga nangadakpan pod nga driver sa I-ACT. Wala na silay panginabuhi-an sab,” he told The FREEMAN.

(That’s a good move, a big help to habalhabal drivers. But I hope the city would also extend assistance to jeepney drivers apprehended by the task force.)

PISTON has around 500 member-drivers in Metro Cebu.

Last Monday, the Cebu City Council approved the resolution authorizing the city’s executive department to charge P15 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds to finance the rice subsidy of 6,000 motorcycle-for-hire drivers in the city.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he wanted to alleviate the burden of the Angkas drivers after the Supreme Court suspended its operation nationwide last week and also amid reports that authorities will start apprehending habalhabal drivers in the city.

At a press conference yesterday, the mayor said he will call another special session as he requested the City Council to pass a resolution authorizing him, on behalf of the riding public, to file for an appeal before the Supreme Court over the ruling of Angkas operations.

“The habalhabal drivers already have their legal case. What we’re going to file is on behalf of the riding public. They’re really the real people who are suffering especially in the mountain barangays,” he told reporters.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will just wait until he will receive for a request from Osmeña for a special session.

“If it is for Angkas, there could be some legal ramifications because it is a private. If it is for the riding public, we have to look into it. But why not make some representations for the whole habalhabal drivers?” the vice mayor said.

While the opposition-allied Cebu City councilors support the giving of rice subsidy to habalhabal drivers, Labella said the administration should look into the proposed regulatory ordinance of City Councilor Pastor Alcover to give these drivers an opportunity to continue their livelihoods.

The executive department has yet to issue an executive order as to who will qualify to receive rice subsidy from the city government.

“I just want to make something clear. We’re not favoring Angkas. But the reason is based on what they did to Angkas which they did to other habalhabal drivers,” the mayor said, adding that his highest priority is the riding public.

Osmeña denied speculations that the giving of rice subsidy is a political act, saying that he did not ask the Supreme Court to issue the decision.

The mayor said “it’s unfair” for anyone to tag his actions as political when he just wants to help the “traumatized” drivers because of the ruling of the court.

“When you try to help people, it’s politics. So when they accuse us of not helping people, it’s politics? That’s their mindset. It’s all about politics. It’s all about money. That’s all they think about,” he added. —JMD (FREEMAN)