Major transportation cooperatives in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City gave their support for the Bayaning Tsuper (BTS) Party-list’s bid in the May 2022 elections.
In a dialogue with BTS first nominee Atty. Aminola “Alex” Abaton and second nominee Atty. Philip Josef Vera Cruz held in the city last Tuesday, 17 November 2022, the leaders of major transport cooperatives expressed their full support for the party-list.
Abaton said the dialogue is part of the consultation process of the party-list to find out the requirements of each road user, especially drivers.
Among those present were the leaders of three (3) of the biggest transport cooperatives, namely: ROA Canitoan Transport Cooperative (PONTRANSCO) chaired by Mr. Lolito Sanchez with Manager Luzviminda Escobidal; Golden Friendship Eco-Friendly Transport Cooperative (GOFETCO) headed by Mr. Winifredo Yanja; and Commuters, Drivers, and Operators Transport Cooperative (CDOTRANSCO) headed by Chairman Nestor D. Babol and Board Secretary Elmo A. Banaglorioso, among others.
In a talk earlier this week, PONTRANSCO Manager Luzviminda Escobidal pointed out that it is high-time for the transport sector to be truly represented in Congress.
“Gusto namin naka-focus sa transportasyon talaga. Dapat ‘yung issues and concerns, especially sa transport, matutukan talaga.” Ms. Escobidal emphasized.
She stressed the importance of consultation with transport cooperatives and groups in crafting laws, issuance of rules and regulations, and in the development of programs, for these to be relevant and responsive to the needs of stakeholders, especially the drivers and small operators.
She lamented: “Ang daming coop. Hindi nabibigyang-tugon ang transport coops. Kasi sa transport sector, maraming problema, especially sa mga MCs [Memorandum Circulars]. Dapat talaga, may consultation sa transport sector. Hindi ‘yung gagawa ng batas tapos iimplement agad. At least sana ma-discuss. May discussion tayo doon.”
For his part, Atty. Abaton said the dialogue is part of the consultation process of the party-list to find out the requirements of each road user, especially drivers.
During the discussion, the Bayaning Tsuper first nominee laid out some of the proposed plans and programs of the party-list, most of which came from previous consultation with transport groups from the different regions of the country. He shared that they will push for continuing cash subsidy for drivers to augment the income of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers so they may financially cope and thus, get back on their feet.
“Ang programa po sa hanay ng transport ay magkaroon tayo ng continuing cash subsidy tulad ng ginagawa sa DSWD na 4Ps. Hopefully, Bayaning Tsuper can help replicate that kind of initiative para mayroon tayo nung tinatawag na continuing ayuda para sa ating mga tsuper,” he revealed.
Atty. Abaton also disclosed other plans and programs for the transport sector which they intend to put into law to ensure their proper implementation and continuity. On the Party-list’s checklist are the mandatory medical health insurance; retirement benefits for PUV drivers; free legal assistance to ensure the protection of their rights; mobile medical clinics; and the establishment and/or improvement of transport terminals with functional comfort rooms.
During the discussion, Bayaning Tsuper laid out some of its proposed plans and programs, most of which came from previous consultations with regional transport groups.
“‘Yung mga ganitong programa, dapat through legislation para consistent at tuluy-tuloy ang implementation,” Atty. Abaton said.
Further, he emphasized the importance of strengthening transport cooperatives to help drivers and small operators.
“Dapat meron talagang transport cooperatives na tututukan ‘yung welfare ng ating mga drivers,” he said.
Bayaning Tsuper second nominee Atty. Vera Cruz noted that empowering cooperatives, especially those which have been recently formed to comply with the requirements of the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), will require stable financial resources.
“Maganda ang mag-form ng cooperatives. Ang isyu nga lang d’yan ay ang kumuha ka ng resources to fund the cooperative. Of course, ang cooperative bibili ng sasakyan,” he reasoned.
To ensure adequate funding, he divulged the Party-list’s solution.
“Bayaning Tsuper will propose the creation of a government credit or loan facility to assist our drivers who wish to form a cooperative or who wish to enhance their cooperative para maka-comply sa modernization requirement, and for them to explore other enterprises or industries,” Atty. Vera Cruz said.
