As different transportation groups expressed their alliance and support to Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., heads of the jeepney sector said they are confident that their lives will improve under his leadership.
“Ang nagustuhan namin kay Bongbong Marcos, siya ay may puso at ‘di marunong bumato ng putik. Kaya lahat ay hinihimok namin dahil ipa-priority niya ‘yung aming sariling pondo doon sa Public Transport Consumers Tax Bill. Malaking bagay ito dahil dito manggaling ang pondo namin para makapag-modernize ng tuloy-tuloy,” Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas (LTOP) National President Orlando Marquez said.
“Gusto ni Senator Marcos, ang mga driver bilang serbisyo publiko sa taumbayan ng buong Pilipinas ay magkaroon ng marangal na tirahan. Iaayos din niya ang livelihood program sa mga asawa ng tsuper para magtulungan para umangat ang kalidad ng buhay ng ating mga driver,” he added.
Marquez said the jeepney sector is one of the biggest taxpayers in the country and being prioritized will greatly help them especially after they were badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his meeting with the transport sector groups, Marcos assured them of continuous modernization of jeepneys without compromising their classic design which is part of Philippine heritage. He is also pushing for the inclusion of transportation groups in public consultations to prevent them from suffering from unfair ordinances and penalties issued by the national and local government.
“Ang gusto niya at sinabi niya sa amin ay hindi pwedeng mawala ang jeep ng Pilipinas. Kaya lahat ng miyembro ng LTOP sa buong Pilipinas, deklarado na kami na Bongbong Marcos kami dahil ang gusto namin ay pag-unlad,” Marquez said.
Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang Masda) National President Roberto “Ka Obet” Martin said Marcos is the only candidate who showed better programs for the transportation sector giving him an edge from other candidates.
“Kaya sinang-ayunan namin ang kanyang magagandang layunin at kami ay umaasa na mapapatupad ang mga napagusapan kapag siya ang nanalo sa 2022. Kami ay natutuwa at nagpapasalamat sa magandang layunin hindi lang sa sektor ng transportasyon kundi sa ating bansang Pilipinas,” Martin said.
Martin also said that voters nowadays knows better when it comes to the allegations being thrown at Marcos and his family.
“It has been a long issue at ngayon ay marurunong na ang mga botante. Napagaralan na nila yan at nalaman na nila na si BBM ay ‘di sangkot sa kung anumang akusasyon na binabato ng kanyang mga kalaban,” he added.
Heads and other officials of major transportation groups including LTOP, Pasang Masda, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP); Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators – Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (PCDO-ACTO); Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP); Federation of Ayala Center Transport Terminals Inc.; and Tiger in Asia agreed that Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Marcos will be their sector’s “best bet” in the 2022 national elections and have committed to support and endorse him not only to their members but to all Filipinos.