By JIAN ZHARESE JOEIS SANZ
Bulatlat.com

Main story: Railway expansion threatens livelihood of community

MANILA – As the eviction of the Hipodromo Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (HITODA)’s Teresa terminal approaches, students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Sta. Mesa faces woes in their daily commute. 

In an interview, PUP Anakbayan Chairperson Daniela Riego said that the eviction of the HITODA Teresa terminal will certainly make commuting for PUP students to various buildings and satellite colleges more difficult. “It will have a big impact on PUP students. This part of Teresa is flood-prone, and the rainy season has arrived again. It’s difficult to walk to the LRT station in that kind of weather.”

Riego highlighted the health risks that students may encounter, such as Leptospirosis from flooding and heat stroke during heatwave seasons, if the HITODA terminal is removed.

According to Panday Sining PUP’s Facebook post, the eviction of the terminal will displace 132 tricycle drivers. Riego further expressed concern about the displacement of the drivers. “The effects will ripple out, since all the routes are connected. They’ll be forced to crowd together elsewhere, and once the terminal closes, they’ll need to recalibrate their routes.”

Additionally, Riego mentioned that the drivers face the risk of traffic violation apprehensions.

The HITODA terminal is said to be removed to make way for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

Members of HITODA have been paying their monthly rent long before the pandemic hit the country. As their operations stopped during the pandemic, the drivers were shocked to be informed that their rent debt had ballooned to P1.5 million ($26,407.52). within one year – a questionable thing, as Riego said. 

HITODA intended to pay their debt and rent after the pandemic, but were informed they would be evicted for a new project. Riego said that although HITODA hasn’t renewed its contract, they deserve due process from the PNR and the local government unit, which she said did not lay out any plans of support for the affected drivers.

Riego called for the public and the students to unite and stand with the tricycle drivers of HITODA. “That’s why we must stand together. This is our right to accessible public transportation. It’s one of the things that helps us get through our daily lives as students of this university.” 

She emphasized that public transportation should be efficient and inclusive, but the government’s focus on elite interests is evident in the displacement of HITODA drivers, impacting PUPians as well. (AMU, RBV)