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Friday, February 10, 2006
Editorial: Consuelo de bobo
THE P5.50 fare increase for the motorelas while not totally unexpected certainly didn't bring joy to the hundreds of motorela operators who graced last Monday's regular session in order to hear the decision of the City Council public utilities committee on the issue.
But P5.50 it is for the motorelas and it only awaits the signatures of the vice-mayor and mayor to make it a formality.
The decision is a slight turnaround from the P1.00 fare increase that was being targeted by the motorela groups who submitted a written petition on the matter to the utilities committee.
Though there was agreement on the P1.00 increase the petition was undercut thanks to the opposition of Councilor Edgar Cabanlas who felt that the P1.00 increase was too much in light of the two percent increase in the Expanded or Reformed Value Added Tax (EVAT or RVAT take your pick).
Still there was little to celebrate for both the riding public and the motorela groups on this development.
The riding public, which had long resigned itself to the fact that everything must go up, still cannot help but wince at the P.50 hike since it will only cut their pockets a little deeper.
For the motorela drivers and operators the hike increase does little to improve their lot since it is still one peso short of the increase granted to their much bigger rivals on the road, the passenger jeepneys. The jeepneys on the other hand, are not moving for a peso increase as of yet.
The P5.50 increase is without a doubt a consuelo de bobo or consolation from the City Government to the motorela groups in light of the RVAT or EVAT increase.
Though in practice the motorela drivers may just as well be earning the same as passenger jeepneys.
See, passengers more often than not would find it troublesome to collect the other P0.50 change from motorela drivers who would either pretend either not to have the right amount of change or ignore any and all calls for change from their passengers.
And passenger jeepney drivers have always complained that the passengers usually pay "only" P6.00 in lieu of the P6.50 mandated by the transportation agencies on commuters. The jeepney drivers get to collect P6.50 only when the passengers pay P10.00 and above.
So it remains to be seen if the P5.50 fare would be more beneficial to the motorela drivers in the long run. Ultimately it is still the riding public who would cushion the effects of the motorela fare increase and it is they, not the drivers or operators, who are given the consuelo de bobo by the City Government.
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Educator, coop leader
Edna Elizaga Aberilla -- Chairperson, Cooperative Developemnt Authority (1990-1996); Consultant, Cooperative Office, Iligan City
WITH so much concern and compassion for the needs of the service driven sector, the cooperative sector, her elegant ways and grace did not become a complication to serve and to serve even with passion and ardor.
It's not enough that she serves her own home based Iliganons who advocate for the cry, the needs and desires to live a life where democracy should be in control, but she rose to heights where her outstretched hands can reach the farthest place of the country, from end to end of the archipelago. She was the first Chairperson of the Board of Administrators of the Cooperative Development Authority. That was years from 1990 to 1996. As such, her yearnings to help fully the sector materialized.
Her working years started her as an educator, but her teachings progressed beyond the four corners of a classroom and the vicinity of the school campuses of the St. Peter's College, St Michael's College and the MSU-IIT, all in Iligan City.
As an educator, she was well-equipped to share ideas, impart more knowledge not only taken from the theories of the books but also of the experiences and economics of man making a living and making it well as to share and to be of service.
All worthy and noble citations and recognitions not much to her desire to give her fame and fortune, but only to lift uo her heart and bring her the satisfaction of the spirit.
From being a Best Evaluator, Outstanding Woman Leader, One of the Ten Best Outstanding Citizens of Iligan City, Outstanding Citizen of Bulan, Sorsogon, Most Outstanding Cooperative Founder/Organizer, Most Outstanding Woman Cooperator, to Woman Pillar of the Cooperative Movement and most recently as an Outstanding Iliganon, proves only that her life was so much dedicated toa full service for others in the best, fine and simple ways she can, as an educator and a cooperative leader.
Blest with 9 wonderful children who along with her dedicated husband, Engr. Gil A. Aberilla, Professor Edna E. Aberilla does not take a stop but still strides to greater heights to fulfill a dream.
Now a Consultant of the Cooperatives Office, as appointed by the City Mayor of Iligan City, Hon. Lawrence Luch Cruz, she still feel duty bound to share her dreams to live a most satisfying life the cooperative way.
(February 10, 2006 issue)
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