DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A councilor has asked various government agencies to give free rides to essential government workers assigned in far-flung areas of Marilog District citing difficulties of the residents to obtain safe and convenient public transportation that puts them at constant risk.
“For some who are lucky to hoop-in on a passenger vehicle but for most who are desperate they tend to ride at the top of cargo vehicles alongside with the vegetables or in cattle carrier, others plead for a free ride by hitching from those private vehicles passing by without knowing what kind of people they will be dealing in the end,” said Third District Councilor Conrado Baluran during the regular session at the Sangguniang Panglungsod Tuesday, August 2.
His “Libre Sakay” program urged the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation and Regulatory Board, the local executive government, and all concerned agencies to provide free rides to all public teachers, health and essential workers, other government employees, and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) through a socialized transport system under service contracting program.
“The right to mobility of our people for essential travel must be adhered to and must be achieved by having unprecedented access to public transportation to which sooner we all have the chance to partake,” he said.
The said program pushed that through service contracting the government will provide payouts to qualified participating operators and drivers of buses and jeepneys.
His resolution was passed by the city council under suspended rules. (davaotoday.com)
