All politics is local. This quote, while attributed to former US House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neal, surely finds its mark in Philippine politics.
In Dumaguete, this quote is starting to simmer in the political pot.
The chief of the Land Transportation Office, Roland Ramos, wants to implement a national law that prohibits tricycles from plying on national roads. If this pushes through, tricycles will not be permitted along the national highway from the City’s south boundary, through Real St., and all the way to the north boundary. Tricycles will also be banned along Perdices St.
These two roads are the busiest roads in Dumaguete. Arguably, tricycles get most of their passengers from along these roads. And implementing this national law will surely spell financial trouble for tricycle drivers.
On the other hand, local government executives are fighting to prevent the implementation of this law. Chief among them is Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria. For Sagarbarria, there is nothing wrong in allowing tricycles to travel on national roads.
For now, all aces seem to be in the hand of the Mayor. If the LTO will enforce this law in Dumaguete City without the blessings of the Mayor, the Mayor can always tell the City Traffic Personnel to look the other way.
It seems to be an issue of survival, both for the tricycle drivers and for the Mayor.
However, the political landscape has changed with the team-up of election rivals Sagarbarria and Woodrow Maquiling, who lost to the incumbent Mayor by only 57 votes. William Ablong, the only candidate who beat Woodrow Maquiling in previous elections for the vice mayoralty post, is also happy with his job as City Administrator.
A united Sagarbarria-Maquiling force would probably give the Mayor an easier reelection bid; unless a much bigger political foe appears on the horizon.
Given this scenario, would there still be a need for a clash between the LTO and the City?
