Political motivation at its highest

It’s been a rainy Christmas week and the reason is that Tropical Depression Usman might intensify into a tropical storm before its possible landfall over Eastern Samar this Friday. It is forecast to cross the northern parts of Leyte, Cebu, Panay Island, Sulu Sea and Palawan after its landfall, PAGASA said in its live forecast at 5 a.m. yesterday.

As of 3 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Usman was located at 795 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gusts of 60 kph. Usman moves west-northwest at 20 kph. Moderate to heavy rains are expected over Eastern Visayas and the region of Bicol on Thursday and Friday. PAGASA said Signal No. 1 might be raised over provinces in Eastern Visayas and northern Caraga as of yesterday.

Usman is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday, December 31. The former low pressure area monitored by PAGASA has entered the Philippine area of responsibility and has intensified into a tropical depression. It is the 21st tropical cyclone to enter PAR. Let’s call ourselves blessed that this particular typhoon isn’t as destructive as expected.

In yesterday’s news, it said that during the Christmas Eve Mass, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on the faithful to offer prayers for those affected by the tsunami that also killed close to 400 people Saturday in Indonesia. That was part of his homily at the Manila Cathedral  last Monday night. Tagle also urged the people to be in solidarity with those suffering this Christmas, such as those who lost loved ones and property from the tsunami that smashed into the coasts of Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java.

It was last reported that at least 373 people died when the Anak Krakatoa volcano erupted supposedly under the sea that led to a tsunami.  Indonesia, like the Philippines, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire that gets many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes which are often so destructive. If I recall it right, one of the greatest tsunami incidents that happened in Indonesia was the Indian Ocean earthquake that happened on Dec. 26, 2004 in Aceh, where 200,000 people from 14 countries perished. I really don’t know why this happens in December. But again let’s count ourselves lucky that we were not involved in that natural disaster.

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Last Dec. 23, more than 6,000 Angkas drivers gathered to attend a Mass sponsored by the Cebu City government at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). With the attendance of such a huge crowd, no less than Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña vowed not to abandon the affected Angkas and motorcycles-for-hire drivers in the city. The mayor also said that he will write a letter to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to allow the government procure at least 10,000 sacks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) that will be given to the Angkas and habalhabal drivers.

I don’t know what you see, but I see a political opportunity that Mayor Osmeña found in the Angkas drivers and habalhabals and, for sure, those drivers, regardless of their track record as drivers, would vote for Mayor Osmeña. So I suggest that his political opponents look for ways to neutralize this huge advantage that the mayor has over them. Come now, why give these drivers 10,000 sacks of rice when their issue is getting the Land Transportation Office (LTO) approval. He says though it is not for profit, but financial assistance. In fact, he didn’t care to find out if the 6,000-plus drivers all came from Cebu City. I would reckon that the mayor should have checked the numbers of Cebu City residents before committing the 10,000 sacks of rice. It’s political motivation at its highest!

Meanwhile the City Legal Office is now preparing the petition by checking the constitutionality of the regulation of motorcycles-for-hire. But Osmeña is hopeful that the matter will be filed before the higher court as soon as possible to help the affected drivers. Yet the Supreme Court already made a decision on this issue.

The main issue is whether Angkas, as a public transportation, is a safe for public. If the far-flung areas need public transportation, our political leaders are wrong to insist that it should be via a motorcycle. In most countries, they allow public transportation on a scheduled basis. Not via a motorcycle.

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