Trike drivers endorse Jamora; black prop assailed
The bandwagon continues to roll for mayoralty candidate Larry Jamora who is now completely dominating the race for the city’s premier political plum. This even as Jamora assailed the black propaganda that one of his beleaguered opponent is already resorting to.
At the Dep-Ed Social Hall at Mabini yesterday, some 600 tricycle drivers sacrificed half-a-day’s earnings to declare their open and full support for Larry Jamora and his fellow candidates in the slate now described as Team Pagbag-o.
The city proper district was entirely bereft of tricycles yesterday morning as the entire membership of the Metro Iloilo Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association, Inc. (MITODA, Inc.) gathered to listen cheer for Jamora and his plans for the city. Some of the drivers even brought along their wives and children.
MITODA president Antonio Chua, also a barangay kagawad of Barangay San Agustin, said the tricycle drivers support for Jamora is as much an appreciation for his apparent sincerity and vision for the city, it is as much an indictment of the current leadership at city hall.
The tricycle drivers have been marginalized, Chua bewailed. We have long been asking for just a little consideration not only for the drivers but for the sake of our passengers but we have been constantly ignored.
For example, Chua said, tricycles have been banned from entering Mabini Street towards Gen. Luna as well as their old pick up routes near SM Delgado and Robinsons. This has limited the drivers’ opportunity to earn and forced hundreds of parents and schoolchildren to walk the rest of the way towards Central, Mabini, and SPED elementary schools thus exposing them to heat, rain, and road hazards.
Jamora said he was immensely gratified by the show of support. We are here to listen to their problems and concerns.
Jamora vowed to rationalize the city’s policies involving the public transport sector while seeking solutions to traffic woes. He cited, for example the burdensome requirements for the registration of trisikads and the wanton arrest of drivers for various violations.
Meanwhile, Jamora also assailed the black propaganda that has been attributed to the camp of Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog alleging that Jamora has been found guilty of dishonesty and graft and corruption by the Philippine Anti Graft Commission during his stint as Administrator of the Local Waster Utilities Administration (LWUA). Leaflets regarding the said claims have been circulating in the city only recently.
Jamora described the allegations as pure fiction and an act of desperation. It should be pointed out that from LWUA, Jamora became Administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Administration and, later, became Presidential Assistant for Water under the Office of the President.
The claim was so wild even former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. who is also running for city mayor, distanced himself from the allegation. “Wala ko labot sina (I have nothing to do with it)”, said Gonzalez.
