Tricycle drivers endorse Belmonte for QC mayor

Support for Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. snowballed yesterday as 28 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) endorsed his candidacy for mayor of Quezon City.

"Bakit pa kami magbabakasakali sa iba? Kailangan ng lungsod ang siguradong may kakayahan at sinseridad (Why would we take our chances with others? The city needs one with competence and sincerity)," said Ricardo Dadea, TODA-District 4 president.

"Si Belmonte ay magaling at mabuting tao. Maasahan namin siya (Belmonte is a good man. We can depend on him)," he said.

He said their groups are hoping that the Speaker, once elected as Quezon City mayor, would be able to lead an effective, honest and transparent city administration and efficiently deliver basic services.

The group’s leaders and some members motored to Belmonte’s headquarters along E. Rodriguez Avenue to express their support for him.

Besides Dadea, other association presidents who endorsed the Speaker’s mayoral bid included Freddie Manuel (Unang Hakbang), Josephine Gerones (Villa España), Jose Sison Jr. (UP), Frank Muñoz (Visayas), Edmund Coronel (New Manila, Rod Docoron (Agham), Juanito Carpio (Biak-na-Bato), Honorio Pazcoguin (Pinagkaisahan), and H. Panti (Philcoa).

Earlier, 253 urban poor organizations rallied behind Belmonte’s good government campaign.

These various groups expressed their support for the Speaker after an independent survey showed him leading his closes opponent in the mayoral race by almost 2 to 1.

Of those polled, 54.7 percent said they would vote for him against his opponent’s 28 percent. Belmonte is running under the People Power Coalition with reelectionist Vice Mayor Connie Angeles and a full congressional and city council ticket.