Major transport groups in Davao City gave their unanimous and unequivocal support for Bayaning Tsuper as their voice in the House of Representatives.
In a dialogue with Bayaning Tsuper Party-list nominee Atty. Aminola “Alex” Abaton, facilitated by Ka Jani Torrejos and held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Lanang, Davao City on 19 November 2021, leaders of the bus, jeepney, and tricycle transport segments in the City said they welcome Bayaning Tsuper’s electoral bid and wishes for the Party-list’s success. This, after hearing its platform of governance.
Abaton assured that Bayaning Tsuper will continue to strengthen its engagement with transport stakeholders through the establishment of regional offices nationwide.
Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association (SMBOA) President Prince Jerry Sy said, “Kung sa transportasyon kayo magfo-focus, susuportahan namin kayo.”
He noted that the programs laid out by Bayaning Tsuper respond to their segment’s issues, such as the medical insurance for drivers, mobile medical clinic, and loan credit facility to help bus operators cope and rebuild after the pandemic.
“The health issues of drivers is very important to us. Importante meron silang insurance. On the health issues, parang wala pa. Depende sa kumpanya o personal. Sana mayroon for conductors at drivers. Sa terminals, we’re trying to renovate the terminals,” he said.
He added, “Ang buses, tinamaan talaga kami ng pandemic… LTFRB is opening more routes. Kami, kailangan talaga namin ng financial assistance, assistance from the banks… Sana po manalo kayo. ‘Yun ang wish ko.”
Meanwhile, Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC) Chairman Manuel “Maning” Duran emphasized the need for representation to allow the traditional jeepney segment to survive amid the PUV Modernization Program implementation. He said their hope was revived upon hearing the Party-list’s proposal to review the program in consultation with stakeholders.
“Nabuhayan kami [ng loob], dahil dito, malapit na kaming katayin. Hindi namin inaayawan ang modernization. Gusto din namin magbago ng sasakyan,” he emphasized.
He continued, “Wala tayong iwanan. Ang pinapangako ko sir, ang Bayaning Tsuper, aabot ‘yan sa Visayas, Bacolod, Cebu…”
Davao City Tricyle Operators Drivers Federation President and Bangkerohan Tricycle Operators Drivers Association Rodolfo “Boy” Cuyos meanwhile vowed, “Basta kami sir, asahan ninyo ang full support namin.”
For his part, Rey Vilos of the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP) vouched for first nominee Atty. Abaton’s competence.
“Si Sir Abaton, hindi po politiko. Nakita ko po ‘yung career n’ya, ni [Land Transportation Office] Director Abaton. Ang Bayaning Tsuper, ang ganda ng programa. Ito ang pinaka-importanteng narinig ko ngayon, sir: Ang party-list magkaroon ng regional offices, dahil ang transport kailangan nila ng mapupuntahan. ‘Yung mga reklamo mabilis maaaksyunan,” he said.
Further, the TODA leader committed his group’s support for Bayaning Tsuper, “Sa tagal ko sa transport–26 years–ngayon lang po ako nagsalita sa harap ng party-list. Kasi naramdaman ko po, ‘yung programa ninyo, ‘yung pinaplano ninyo, magkakatotoo. At tutulong po kami sa abot ng aming makakaya.”.
In response, Atty. Abaton expressed his appreciation for the transport leaders’ support.
“Maraming salamat. Thank you for the kind words. Nakakataba po ng puso,” he said.
He assured that Bayaning Tsuper will continue to strengthen its engagement with transport stakeholders through the establishment of regional offices nationwide.
“Naniniwala kami sa prinsipyo ng diyalogo at consultation. Ang nagiging problema sa mga bagong polisiya, hindi nagkakaroon ng konsultasyon. Kaya ang tendency, minsan ‘yung programa, hindi maitawid sa ibaba. Dahil hindi tumutugma ang programa sa realidad, hindi maitawid sa baba. Makakaasa po kayo na sa Bayaning Tsuper, walang kalimutan, walang maiiwan,” he underscored.
“Para masiguro natin ang continuing engagement sa transport sector, maglalagay tayo ng regional offices sa buong bansa, para continuously, we can coordinate, we can communicate and we can collaborate kung ano ‘yung mga programa at para mabilis ang aksyon sa mga isyu,” Atty. Abaton highlighted.
