The Pasig City local government recognized members of the city’s Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) for their good deeds to passengers during their working hours.
Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr., Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, and the city council conferred certificates of recognition to 11 TODA members during a ceremony on Monday, May 15.
(VM Dodot Jaworski / MANILA BULLETIN)
The tricycle drivers were honored for their efforts in returning items, particularly cash of varying amounts, left by their passengers in their vehicles to the city’s Tricycle Operation and Regulatory Office (TORO).
The money surrendered to the TORO office ranged from P2,000 to almost P100,000. One of the tricycle drivers recognized in the ceremony returned cash worth P1.3 million that came with documents of land titles.
Checks for P400,000 and $200 US dollars, along with IDs and eco bags containing a variety of goods, were also returned by the tricycle drivers.
Aside from the certificates, the recipients were given grocery packs and gift certificates worth P2,000 from the Office of the Mayor.
(VM Dodot Jaworski / MANILA BULLETIN)
City Councilor Mark Gil “Volta” Delos Santos, the designated Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the TORO, the Traffic and Parking Management Office of Pasig (TPMO), and Peace and Order Department (POD) said that tricycle drivers have greatly helped their offices implement their services.
“Ang ating mga tricycle drivers sa TODA ay hindi po nagpahuli dahil noong kasagsagan po ng pandemic, sila po ay tumulong sa atin, hindi lang sa pagpapanatili ng maayos na daloy ng trapiko at pagsunod sa batas trapiko, pati sa paghahanap ng mga bagay na nawawala o naiiwan, lalo na po sa kanilang mga tricycle (During the pandemic, our tricycle drivers helped us, not just in ensuring the organized flow of traffic and enforcing traffic laws, but also in searching for lost possessions or items left behind, especially in their tricycles),” Delos Santos said.
Since then, there have been hundreds of TODA members who have been turning over goods to the TORO office, he noted.
Delos Santos and Mayor Sotto lauded the tricycle drivers for their honesty, which the councilor said is proof of hope persisting in the city through the good deeds of the public.
“Nawa’y maging halimbawa at inspirasyon sa atin ‘yung mga nakita nating mga tricycle driver para tayo po ay patuloy na mamuhay na may dangal, tapat, at may integredad sa lahat ng mga ginagawa natin (We hope our tricycle drivers become examples and inspirations for us to continue living with dignity, honesty, and integrity in everything that we do),” said Sotto.
“Sa ating lahat, may nakatingin man o wala, kilalanin man tayo o hindi, bigyan man tayo ng reward o hindi, mabuhay po tayo ng may katapatan katulad ng mga kasama nating tricycle driver (For all of us, regardless if there is or isn’t anyone looking, if we are recognized or not, if we are rewarded or not, let us live honestly like our tricycle drivers),” he added.