Oppressive ordinance

Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba, your proposed ordinance relative to the "Pedal Operated" trisikad wherein the sidecar will be confiscated once they are apprehended and only the bicycle will be released after paying a fine of P1,000, in my opinion, is not only absurd but also oppressive.

While your intention is laudable for saving lives, however, there is no record whatsoever that the life was wasted. It is regrettable to note that accidents only happen when the Citom personnel conduct its "Oplan Dakop" wherein they run after this poor trisikad drivers as if they are wanted criminals, thereby causing accidents.

It is the system on how to make arrest that should be corrected rather than complicating the problem of poverty of our poor brothers who brave the rain, fight the cold breeze at dawn, endure the heat of the sun, the dust, the smoke-beltching jeepneys and cars just to make both ends meet and put food on the table. Denying them to drive along commercial district will diminish their income.

Why don't you give them a time-schedule when they can operate certain areas in our commercial districts, or better still, define the route where they can operate without diminishing their income.

It cannot be denied too, that there are abusive trisikad drivers, but compared to the good ones, they are but just a few.

Have you ever conducted a survey as to how many families are dependent on trisikad? There are even pregnant women who operate trisikads inorder to feed her children, old men and young boys take turns to operate so they can feed their families.

Have you ever tried operating a trisikad? If not, then try so you will feel how difficult it is to have an honest living. This affected families translate into thousands of voters that put you into the council. Hope you will reconsider your proposed ordinance. Thank you and more power to you.