100 single dads get free gas on Father’s Day

ROSARIO, CAVITE: Driving a tricycle is a very exhausting job that does not pay much. And if the driver is a single father who must attend to his children after a long day on the road, can he even spare a thought to what Fathers’ Day is all about?

Very early in the morning, eyes still bleary from lack of sleep, Nestor ( not his real name) gets up, cooks a spare breakfast for himself, helps the kids bathe and dress, cleans the tricycle. Another grueling day has begun.

First, he brings his children to school then goes back to his place in the line at the terminal and waits for passengers. It is a long wait and moving through traffic, he cannot afford to let the blistering heat get to him. He must keep going to keep his small family together, all by himself.

But this Sunday, the local government of Rosario, Cavite will make sure Nestor and others like him will also get to celebrate Fathers’ Day by way of its program “Free gasoline for 100 single dad trike drivers.”

Rosario has a total of 28 Tricycle Operators- Drivers Associations ( TODA) with 2,300 members and officials.

The 100 single fathers selected were endorsed by their respective TODA presidents.

“Tricycle drivers play a vital role in our town because they have become our partners in the effort to alleviate the traffic problem here,” Eddie Flores, chief traffic officer of Rosario said.

Christian Buhain is one of the lucky fathers who will receive free gasoline. He raised his three children by himself. His eldest child will be graduating from college soon.

“I am very grateful to the LGU and Petron Foundation because they have made us, tricycle drivers, the focus of the Fathers’ Day celebration this year. It is even more special because of the gift to single fathers. This free fuel program is big help to us especially since the price of gasoline is increasing,” Buhain said.

“You are the foundation of your home. Because of your hard work and perse- verance your children can go to school. Like all of you I am also a father, the father of our municipality. I desire that we can all have a quiet, happy and prosperous mu- nicipality,” Mayor Voltaire Ricafrente told the drivers.

- gram like this is being launched in the province of Cavite.