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TRIKES GROUP TO SUPPORT ALVAREZ AS 'INDEPENDENT'
January 13, 2004
Leaders of the National Confederation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP) today urged former Senator and Environment Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez to run as 'independent' instead, despite being dropped from the 'K-4 Koalisyon' senate slate.
National political adviser Antonio AG. Medina, national chair Danny Cagas, and president Ariel Lim, all of NACTODAP-a partylist representing some 2.8 million tricycle drivers and operators all over the country-said their group is supporting Alvarez in his senatorial bid even after he was removed from the administration line-up.
"Secretary Alvarez is a senior statesman, an experienced legislator in both houses of Congress, a human rights advocate, EDSA I and II leader, an experienced Cabinet man, an environmental activist, and one of the staunchest anti-Marcos leaders that helped install the Aquino government. Removing a true-blooded, loyal and long-serving Lakas-CMD official from the senate line-up is a great disservice to the nation," Medina and Cagas said in a statement.
Alvarez was assured a slot in the K-4 senate slate until last minute changes brought in some opposition members, dislodging Alvarez.
On Monday, Alvarez resigned as Lakas-CMD party national spokesperson and has since filed his candidacy before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as an independent candidate.
"We will be carrying Secretary Alvarez as our no. 1 senatorial bet come May because of his convictions and his concerns for all sectors," Lim said.
Medina, a former vice governor of Masbate, said Alvarez was instrumental in pushing for the concerns of the tricycle sector, particularly as the original author of the Clean Air Act in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
For his part, Cagas said Alvarez was a project adviser of the recently concluded 1st NACTODAP National Convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City last Dec. 19, 2003.
"Without Secretary Alvarez, the 'trike' convention may not have happened. He was instrumental in bringing our concerns to the President who acted swiftly and decisively," they added.
It was at the convention where President Arroyo announced that there will be no phase-out of two stroke tricycle engines of motorcycles as a 'Christmas gift' to the sector.
The President also announced the release of P30 million to fund a study that would develop coconut-based fuels for the transport sector, allowing tricycle drivers to comply with emission standards set by the Clean Air Act, and helping the country's coconut farmers at the same time.
The Chief Executive meanwhile appointed 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.
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