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GMA’s X’mas gift to tricycle drivers:
NO PHASE OUT OF TWO-STROKE TRICYCLES
Appoints ‘Trike Czar’
December 20, 2003
Some 2.8 million tricycle drivers and operators all over the country have reason to celebrate this holiday season after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that there will be no phase-out of two stroke tricycle engines.
The Chief Executive declared this yesterday (December 19) during the 1st national convention of National Confederation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
“Everyday, we are searching for ‘win-win solutions’ to our nation’s many problems, especially on how to reduce poverty. In your case, we will not allow the phase-out of two-stroke tricycles. This is my Christmas gift to you. But we still want to abide by the rule of law so we will be looking at ways on how we can pursue the implementation of the Clean Air Act without compromising your source of livelihood,” the President said in Filipino.
The proposed government phase-out of tricycles with two-stroke engines was one of the main issues contained in NACTODAP’s ‘Convention Resolution,’ which they first presented to Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Communities Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez on Thursday, owing to the former Senator and Environment Secretary’s knowledge on the issue.
“The phase-out of two-stroke engines may not be needed as long as their emissions comply with the standards set under Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act and for operators to ensure proper and regular maintenance of tricycle,” Alvarez stressed.
According to Alvarez, there are now plant-based 2T Oil additives in the market, such as the coco-based methyl ester, that burns cleanly, reducing the polluting “white smoke” emitted by tricycles because it is sulfur-free and is biodegradable.
To develop coconut-based fuels for the transport sector, President Arroyo announced the release of a P30-million fund to allow tricycle drivers to comply with emission standards set by the Clean Air Act, helping at the same time the country’s coconut farmers.
Support for PGMA’s candidacy
Meanwhile, the 1.4-million strong NACTODAP, representing some 2.8 million tricycle operators and drivers nationwide, thanked Alvarez for helping in bringing their concerns to the President and announced their support for President Arroyo.
“We thank Secretary Alvarez. If not for his timely intervention, this convention would not have pushed through. We would like to thank you Madam President for gracing this occasion and we, the officers and members of NACTODAP, bind ourselves and hereby agree to support your candidacy in the forthcoming May 2004 national election,” Lim said.
The support came a day after the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organizations-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO), Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MHODA) and Pasang Masda also expressed their support for the Chief Executive’s presidential bid.
The President in turn appointed NACTODAP President Ariel Lim as Presidential Assistant for the Tricycle Sector, and ordered the crafting of programs so that tricycle drivers may avail of benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth.
Alvarez, for his part, lauded the tricycle associations for coming together and presenting a solid voice to put forward their concerns to the government.
“As they say, in unity there is strength. I hope this unity has further helped clarify what interests should be protected, one of which is to clean the air,“ said Alvarez, who authored the first bills on the Clean Air Act in the Senate and then in the House of Representatives.
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