Vice mayor welcomes petition against motorela modernization

CAGAYAN de Oro City Vice Mayor Rainier Joaquin Uy on Thursday, November 29, said he would welcome the petition of the federation of "motorela" operators and drivers against the city's supposed "motorela" modernization program and overloading policies.

Uy said his office will study and call on various stakeholders and concerned offices once the petition arrives in his office.

"Hulaton nato ilang petition unya atong tun-an ug ipatawag tanan concerned nga buhatan kung unsay angay ma-craft nga ordinansa or resolution kabahin ana," Uy said.

Various associations of motorela operators and drivers in the city have gathered last November 24 to form a federation and mount a unified action, through a petition, against what they call as "anti-poor" and "anti-motorela operators and drivers" policies of the City Government.

Ringo Lago, spokesperson of the Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao (Starex-Piston), said among the policies that they want the City Government to address are the supposed Motorela modernization program and overloading capacity which for them has deprived drivers to earn bigger income.

He emphasized that the group does not totally object the modernization program but they are asking for a five-year transition period so drivers and operators can prepare.

"Tumong man sa modernization nga usbon ang hitsura sa motorela pero dili dayon unta diha-diha ipatuman aron maka-prepare ang mga operators ug drivers," he said.

Uy said his office is willing to coordinate with the group and listen to their sentiments so that their concerns will be addressed.

"Kung kaya nato mahatag ang ilang gusto atong buhaton pero ato gyud balansihon tanan nga kanang para sa kaayuhan sa kadaghanan," Uy said.