Mindanaotoday.com | Drivers urge Cagayan de Oro gov’t to allow ‘bao-bao’ while waiting for DOLE aid
By: Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Despite having a slight chance, a group of ‘bao-bao’ (tricab) drivers here were continuously urging the local government of Cagayan de Oro to allow them to ply their usual routes and cater passengers in order to provide food for their families.
The Bugo-Puerto-Agusan-Tablon-Cugman Tricab Operators and Drivers Association (BPATC-TODA) said they were calling the local government to consider their request “just for the meantime” while they are still processing the requirements to avail themselves of the livelihood program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“We, the bao-bao drivers, particularly in Barangay Puerto, are still confused about the food we’re going to provide to our families, as we’re having a hard time taking passengers,” BPATC-TODA president Armando Villaflor said on Monday, June 19.
Villaflor said DOLE oriented the group on June 4 at Phase 2, Barangay Bugo, as to the agency’s Integrate Livelihood Program since they’re planning to start their own business as an alternative to being bao-bao drivers.
However, they are still processing their requirements to get the livelihood starter kits from DOLE, which prompted them to ask the city government to temporarily allow them to cater passengers, specifically from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The group is targeted to comply with the necessary requirements within this month.
On June 14 this year, Engr. Nonito Oclarit, assistant department head of the Roads and Traffic Administration, confirmed that the RTA-led composite team, together with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 10 and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, will start the massive operation against bao-bao vehicles in the city after the city’s Charter Day commemoration last June 15.
Because of their eagerness to sustain the needs of their families, the BPATC-TODA president said many bao-bao drivers were forced to pick up passengers despite the prohibition, especially during nights when law enforcement is not around.
Councilor Romeo Calizo, chairman of the city council’s committee on public utilities, reiterated during their last meeting with the transport groups here that tricabs are prohibited under the law from traveling on highways and are not allowed to be used as public transport.
The registrations given by the LTO to the said vehicles are only for private use.
The city government already gathered the bao-bao drivers here to tackle their concerns, which prompted the committee on public utilities to make a position paper to also express its support to the other local government units (LGUs) in the country, calling to amend the law and allow tricabs to be used as public transportation.
But he said he still hasn’t received any developments as to the move they initiated.
As much as Calizo would like to grant the group’s request, he said there’s no law yet allowing bao-bao vehicles to operate as public transport. If the LGU allowed them, the LGU would face the consequences.
“They can only be used for public transport if there’s a law that would allow them. That’s only then that they can be issued with the franchise or whatever authority, a provisional permit maybe from the LGU, for as long as we have the reference from Congress,” Calizo said in a separate interview with the Manila Bulletin on Monday.
The said lawmaker expressed its full support to the bao-bao drivers, acknowledging the tricabs’ best capacities compared to “motorela” and “habal-habal.” Bao-bao vehicles also provide a huge help for commuters, especially in the hinterland areas.
Calizo asked bao-bao drivers here to have a little patience, as they were also hoping that the Congress would listen to their calls.
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