SOME 2,200 motorela drivers in the city are being urged to renew their plate numbers to help police weed out ‘colorum’ motorelas.
City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said drivers who renew their plates and update their drivers' profile will qualify for assistance in getting social services for their families.
Sabuga-a said under the ordinance, the plate numbers of motorelas need to be updated every 10 years.
"During the renewal process, we also enroll them to our various social services package. For instance, if a driver has no PhilHealth yet, we enroll him, they can also avail the city's scholarship program for children, educational assistance, jobstart, and skills training. This is a holistic approach because we want the government closer to the people," Sabuga-a said.
Livelihood programs, PhilHealth membership, summer job for the drivers' children, persons with disabilities, Solo Parent and Senior Citizens ID, and social pension, are among the benefits that the drivers can avail upon their plate number renewal.
"We need to reach out the transport sector because they are the ones who can't visit our government offices because they are always at their motorelas. We cannot deprive them of their benefits," Sabuga-a added.
He said the renewal would also allow them to monitor reported manufacturers of motorela without authority from the city government.
The renewal would also check the road-worthiness of the motorelas in the streets.
Sabuga-a said they will only entertain renewals, and will not include new applications.
"We wouldn't want to add more motorelas with our traffic situation, 2,000 is enough for now," he added.
Motorela is the Cagayan de Oro version of the iconic Philippine tricycle. It was was invented by Rafael D. Floirendo, Sr. sometime in the 1960s.
The renewal started at barangay Carmen on Thursday until today, Friday, in Agora on March 7 and 8, Consolacion on March 5 and 6, Macasandig on March 13 and 14, and Camaman-an on March 9 and 12.