‘RALLY OF SUPPORT’
BOPK officials who are running in next year’s midterm elections show up in full force Fliers with names of BOPK candidates distributed to drivers inside the Cebu City Sports Center
A gathering of around 6,500 motorcycle-for-hire (habal-habal) and Angkas drivers at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) organized by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña last Sunday, Dec. 23, was meant to raise awareness on their plight.
But it reportedly became tainted with politics.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma opened the activity with a mass, which was attended by Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) members, who are all running in the May midterm elections.
Campaign materials printed with the candidates’ names were given to the drivers
In his speech, the mayor assured the drivers that he is with them.
“I became mayor because of people like you. I garnered most of my votes from the poor… Now, I would like to tell you, it’s my turn to reciprocate. I am ready to help you in your cause,” Osmeña said in Cebuano.
The Supreme Court (SC) last Dec. 12 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a Mandaluyong court ruling that barred authorities from intervening in the motorcycle ride-hailing firm’s operations, indicating that Angkas drivers may now be apprehended.
Osmeña, though, has since been vocal about his support for Angkas and habal-habal operators, even appearing before Congress during a 2017 public hearing on a proposed legislative measure legalizing the operation of motorcycles-for-hire.
He clarified that his main priority is not the habal-habal and Angkas drivers, but their passengers, especially those pupils in mountain barangays.
“But what is going on with our government? They’re promoting federalism. But is it federalism when officials based in Manila decide on what the people in the countryside should do without listening to them?” Osmeña asked in Cebuano.
He also announced that the City would distribute P15 million worth of premium quality rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) 7 as a Christmas gift.
However, only drivers who are registered voters in Cebu City can avail themselves of the assistance, he said. Or, they’re registered either with MTB Macao or Angkas.
Each qualified driver will get a 50-kilo sack of rice, with each sack costing P1,600, he said.
Assistant City Administrator Annabeth Cuizon said the NFA has yet to officially reply to the City’s plan to buy 10,000 sacks of rice.
“No official response yet from NFA, but from what we gathered from their personnel, the agency doesn’t sell to LGUs (local government units) unless naay pagtugot sa ilang (the purchase was authorized by the) council. One of their (NFA’s) reasons is, (it’s) not part of their program,” she said.
But while the sacks of rice might have to wait after the holidays, the motorcycle-for-hire drivers reportedly did not go home empty-handed.
Fliers with a list of BOPK candidates were distributed at the CCSC.
Sought for comment on the matter through a text message, Osmeña replied, “No comment.”
Former mayor Michael Rama was not surprised.
“What a better time to do it. Captured audience, so to speak. Of course, clear abuse of authority. Plainly saying it, namintaha (they took advantage). That’s the advantage pagnaa ka sa poder (if you’re in power). Bahala na og way delikadesa, basta makapoAround litical (There’s no such thing as delicadeza as long as you gain political) mileage at the expense of public funds,” Rama said in a text message.
Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Palma, in his homily, urged the thousands of motorcycle-for-hire drivers who attended the mass he officiated to look for the silver lining despite the plight that befell them.
“I urge you, have you been thankful for something? It would have been nice if you had something to thank for. Go on hoping that the future has something good in store for you,” he said in Cebuano.
Cleofe Catarina, a mother of two college kids, said her family’s life improved after she joined Angkas.
“As a mother, I am not perfect. But I do my best for my family. There was a big improvement in my life when I joined Angkas,” she said in Cebuano.
Karl Hegel Damayo, a representative of the riding public, said that since there is no passenger buses or passenger jeepneys in mountain barangays, people there will have no means of transportation if the government goes after motorcycles-for-hire.
Percival Durano of Tungasan-Guadalajara Riders Association in Guadalupe, Cebu City said habal-habal is an alternative to feed their families because they do not qualify to work in industries.