Oro jeepney drivers get financial aid

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/06/20/oro-jeepney-drivers-get-financial-aid-414229
• Saturday, June 20, 2015

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

JEEPNEY drivers in Northern Mindanao have received financial assistance from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who visited the region for his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program.

The PTK program aims to address ordinary people's problems like dealing with high prices, lack of jobs, low income and his continuing advocacy to fight corruption in the country.

"Ito po ay gusto kong patunayan sa inyo na pag nabigyan kayo ng oportunidad ay kaya niyo rin magpatakbo ng negosyo," Cayetano told the drivers at Mindanao University of Science and Technology on Thursday, June 18.

The said program was funded by businessmen supporters of Cayetano last 2013 while he was still a senatorial candidate.

The PTK, he explained is part of his public service as a government official voted by the people, and not a political campaign. He furthered that this is a part of his fulfillment of the promises he made to the people, when he was still vying for the senatorial position.

"This is a no strings attached event," Cayetano said referring to his recent visits and distribution of assistance to some drivers in MisOr, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

In May, Cayetano also gave financial aid to drivers in Opol town in Misamis Oriental.

On June 18, he also visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan distributing assistance to jeepney drivers.

Asked if he’d run for the Senate in 2016 and his visit was part of an early campaign, Cayetano said he will announce his senatorial bid by next month adding, "Well actually ang pangangampanya ay umuutang ka ng tiwala at ng suporta ng tao."

'BBL is a trap'

Meanwhile, Cayetano again expressed his opposition to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"I think the BBL… as written, is a trap, ito'y one-sided with only the MILF's side, ito'y magwe-weaken ng government position, at ito'y hindi magbibigay ng sagot sa kahirapan ng buong Mindanao," he said in an interview with Sun.Star Cagayn de Oro Thursday.

Cayetano believes in a just, inclusive, and lasting peace not only for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but for the whole Mindanao.

"Paano ito magiging for peace if the rest of Mindanao is madedehado. Mas maraming problema na maidudulot ang BBL, hindi ito solusyon," Cayetano added.