Makati transport sector backs Mercado

MANILA, Philippines - Majority of jeepney and tricycle drivers and operators in Makati City are supporting the mayoralty candidacy of Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, a leader of the largest transport group in the city said yesterday.

Orlando Marquez, chairman of the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, said they are throwing their support to Mercado due to the alleged anti-poor implementation of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the city government.

“Eighty to 90 percent ng mga operators at driver ay sumusuporta kay Vice Mayor Mercado dahil nakikinig siya sa mga hinaing ng mga mahihirap sa Makati (80 to 90 percent of operators and drivers support Vice Mayor Mercado because he listens to Makati’s poor),” Marquez said.

Marquez, also the spokesman of the party-list United Transport Alliance Coalition (1-UTAK), said this was the result of a mock poll conducted among jeepney and tricycle drivers and operators by his group.

Marquez said the transport sector in the city was very much offended by the “repressive” implementation of RA No. 136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code that was originally enacted into law in 1964.

He said they raised the matter to the Metro Manila mayors in 2008 where they were allegedly insulted by Mayor Jejomar Binay.

Marquez said RA 4136 provided a uniform schedule of fines for various traffic violations, but local government units do not implement this provision and instead charge exorbitant fees that frequently become a source of corruption. “Drivers practically can’t take anything home to their families because of the high fines to redeem their licenses. This is a burden to the public,” Marquez said.