Kagawad Nacaya and The Drivers
Kag. Ian Mark Nacaya was a treasure-trove of ideas when he was my guest in my weekly tv program at COC-Tv Chanel 39 last week.
His position as chairman of the city council of Cagayan de Oro’s committee on public transportation and the committee on police, fire and public safety certainly put him in the eye of controversial topics and matters of public interest.
First on the matter of motorela and trisikad regulation. We have the fare increase of motorelas from P5.50 to P6.00. Actually, the fare matrix provides for a legal fare of P5.50 but the good drivers of Cagayan de Oro imposed only a fare of P5.00 for motorelas. Now they are asking to implement a minimum fare of P6.00 which the City Council will approve and, by the time this column sees print, the fare would have gone up to P6.00.
And there are no audible objections from the riding public since everyone knows that the price of gasoline has gone crazily up in the past months. The drivers need the relief of increased incomes by increasing the fares.
Don’t know if trisikads will also clamor for fare increases since the regulation of trisikad fares is not controlled by the City Council and beyond the realm of the committee of Kag. Nacaya. The barangays councils control the fares of trisikads since the circumstances in each barangays are distinct. The road conditions, the elevations and curves of the roads, the distances and the number of trisikads plying the streets are not the same. Hence, each barangay council determines the fare matrix of trisikads.
But it is not also fair to say that trisikads cannot increase their fares just because they don’t use gasoline. The trisikad drivers also eat to have the strength to pedal their tri-tires. Rice is as expensive as gasoline and they have to increase their incomes, too.
The eventual classification of motorelas into districts will also get to be implemented. Those motorelas plying the city central streets cannot cross over to the Carmen side. The bridges become their boundaries. Thus, we can expect an end to the motorelas crossing the bridges and roaming at will. The Carmen district will all serve the people there. The city central side will be served by another set of motorelas on this side.
The entry of new motorelas will also be regulated in that a person can have only one motorela. He cannot have a fleet like taxis since the essence of motorela ownership and driving is for livelihood for the poor. Big business should stay out of motorela business.
In police matters, Kag. Nacaya also divulged that there is now an allocation of P200,000.00 to purchase new radio equipment for police patrol cars. We can still remember that then-Mayor Dongkoy Emano bought last year with City funds ten Mitsubishi Adventure cars for the ten police precincts. Certainly, with Kag. Nacaya in the committee of police, fire and public safety, the police force will never be neglected and left behind.
Kag. Nacaya also explained on the theory behind allowing jeepneys from Tagoloan and Villanueva towns to drive by Ororama Mega center to drop off and pick up passengers. This would save double-rides for the riding public compared to the restriction of letting them park only at the Eastbound Terminal. From there they have to take another jeepney to Ororama or to the city. This saves fares for thousands of people each month.
Thus, the consideration and exercise of then-Mayor Emano of his discretion on jeepney city routes was made in the greater interests of the greater mass of people. Not political consideration nor undue favor to anyone.
In totality, I am happy to observe that Kag. Nacaya is one young potential politician that has the makings of Barak Obama. Kag. Nacaya is a very good material for mayor of Cagayan de Oro in the future. His sincerity is clear. His honesty intact. His feelings for the poor and the struggling are never suspect.
So when you see great improvements in the regulation of motorelas, don’t ever think of any other motive. He only means well for the drivers and the riding public.
For that I am certain. Kag.Nacaya deserves our praise.
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