REGIONAL leaders representing the modernized public transport sector met in Cagayan de Oro City last January 22 to discuss both their collective and regional problems.
Held at Marco Hotel for the whole day, the meeting was attended by leaders of the public transport from Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, Davao, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro autonomous region who banded together under the umbrella of the Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives.
According to Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives chairman Melvin Erederos, the public transport providers have unique concerns specified to each locality but at the same time, they also have common issues that they need to address the government in a united way.
MINDANAO Federation of Transport Cooperatives chairman Melvin Erederos drives a point in an interview at the sideline of their special consultative assembly January 22 at Marco Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. CAPTURED BY JAMES ELACO
For this, the Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives invited national and local officials to listen to the transport sector’s concerns. SAGIP partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta failed to attend but sent a representative and on the local front, reelectionist Councilor Bernie Esparcia and former Nazareth barangay chairman Maximo Rodriguez III (representing ABAMIN partylist) were there to show support. Marcoleta is now running for senator while Rodriguez is a candidate for councilor.
SAGIP partylist is representing the urban poor while ABAMIN is representing the less fortunate sectors of society. Erederos said that foremost of their common concerns is the continuing increase of the price of fuel. But he proposed a solution wherein cooperatives can buy fuel in bulk at the fuel depot in Subic where they will be given discounts.
Another concern is the non-implementation of the local public transport route plan (LPTRP) in other local government units in Mindanao. “Diri sa atoa sa Cagayan, wala nay problema. Pero naa g’yud ubang mga LGUs nga hangtod karon, wala pay LPTRP.” Erederos said. The LPTRP is the template used by transport cooperatives so they could ply in both existing and new routes.
And lastly, Erederos said they are expecting the government to strictly flag down colorum and other private vehicles which are used as public transport. “That is the role of the government ug dili na na amo. Pero dapat istriktohon na nila kay kami ang maapektahan,” Erederos said.
