Motorela groups seek to undo ‘7 person-capacity’ ordinance

THE federation of motorela associations in Cagayan de Oro City forwarded on Friday, December 14, their unified petition to amend the "seven person-maximum capacity" and overloading provision imposed on motorela before the Office of the Vice Mayor Rainier Joaquin Uy.

Composed of seven motorela groups, the United Motorela Operators and Drivers Associations in Cagayan de Oro (Unimodaco) is insisting that these policies implemented by the members of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) have worsened their plight and deprived them of bigger income.

The group reiterated in their petition that they were happy with the City Government for approving the P1.00 increase of motorela fare last June which resulted to an increase of their daily income.

However, their joy turned sour when traffic law enforcers started to apprehend drivers for overloading and violations of the “seven person-maximum capacity” a month after.

"Sa walay pag-anunsyo ug walay tin-aw nga pagpasabot ubay-ubay ang nadakpan sa RTA tungod kuno kay nagpasakay sa front seat sa motorela ang mga drivers nga mao kunoy violation sa overloading ordinance sa Motorela," reads part of the petition.

The group said the penalty for the violation ranges from P500 to P1, 500.

Operators and drivers ran to the city hall and asked for a cease and desist order to temporarily stop the implementation while the issue is being resolved.

It worked at first but did not last as RTA members began to apprehend violators anew.

The group said they opposed these "anti-driver/operator" policy because it is an attack to their livelihood.

"Mas mogamay na hinoon ang kita sa mga kabus nga drivers ug operators kung ilimita lang sa unom ngadto sa walo ang passengers maximum capacity", they said.

The group also claimed that the “seven person-maximum capacity” (including driver) is based on the two-stroke engine motor which is not being used today as motorela units now are using the four-stroke engine motor which is durable and environmentally friendly.

They also insist that passengers remain safe to occupy the front seats.

"Kung safety ang hisgutan, mas ang driver man nga nagdala sa iyang pasahero ang angayan nga i-seminar, i-remind ug ipadayon ang edukasyon dili dapat initan ang motorela nga sa dugay nang panahon napamatud-an nga lig-on," the group said.

"Sayop nga dakpon ang mga motorela driver bisan 3 ra ang iyang pasahero apan tungod kay naay sakay sa front seat dakpon siya sa overloading," they added.

The said petition was also submitted to the City Council's committee on public utilities.

Uy earlier said he would welcome the motorela group's petition and assured that he would look for solutions to the problem.

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