Dinalupihan Pedicabs

Zaldy Carreon De Leon Jr.

If Dinalupihan is a beach, the Pedicabs were the sands. We see them everywhere – they prowl at the agoras, the scholae, at the plaza. Though they endure scorching heat, some days of rain, and a full year of footwork, what they earned is less than the effort they undertake. Our Pedicab drivers need something today. . .

Our community needs a lot of vehicles – people around Pampanga and Bataan makes Dinalupihan their melting pot. So, the creation of tricycle and pedicab terminals is necessary to appease the demand of low-cost transportation. All an aspirant Pedicab driver may do is to register his vehicle annually, no tax, no monthly allotment, no big deals. Thus, men from all ages peacefully wait their turn to carry one or two of us. Though we pay less, but surely, they pay less too. Should they pay more thus we pay more too? Is this political or natural? Aristotle knows.

Ricky Tuazon, a Pedicab Operator said, “We earn less than we expect; but what can we do? Good for us, we don’t use oil.” Another Pedicab driver, Ricardo Ocampo said, “At least, new rules were passed so other less-abiding drivers may learn. There were good Marshalls.” For, though Pedicab drivers were usually non-degree holders, or does not need a lot of guts to show off skills; what they need to have are the ability and will to continue the day. According to the United Nations Environment Program, Pedicab Driving ranked one of the toughest job in the entire world. However humble they may be, some motorists were annoyed at their 20 kph or less where they assume 60 kph or more. Do I mentioned how tricycle drivers were upset when some of us choose a slower Pedicab than theirs? Truly, the existence of Pedicab is as political as it is natural.

Mayor Garcia in 2014 trumpeted an order. It summoned the Pedicabs to remain intact outside Hi-ways to ensure the easy flow of traffic. Politically, the order calls for the abolition of colorums (which is good) and it will be followed by mountains of by-laws that only threaten those unresponsive Pedicabs to withdraw their pace. They need to provide plates and tags, a reflector and its corollaries, side mirrors and horns, and a uniform. In other words, Pedicabs should exist only if these requirements are satisfied. And naturally, it would hit our Pedicab drivers badly since they earn more from special trips; utmost, to cancel their registrations. Our Pedicabs should follow the instructions very well, or otherwise. Everything should be in order, I affirm to our Mayor’s will.

Though a noble profession, should this Pinoy spectacle vanish slowly with our culture of hardwork? Can we bulldozer all the sands in the beach to give way to rocks and boulders? A beach is different without its sands. So as Dinalupihan without our Pedicabs. However, on the other parts of the country, Pedicabs were given some artistic distinction. The Pinoy fashion-designer Kenneth Cobonpue has translated his arts to give birth to a modern Pedicab he called Eclipse; as well as some festivals were addressed particularly for them like nthe First Pedicab Festival. In view of high hopes for our Pedicabs, the President of the Pedicab Operators believes, “Those orders will redirect our future – well-attending Marshalls, safer driving, ethical treatment, etc. But at least the Pedicab culture still holds an active position in our community. It will live a long time as long as there are tireless feet to propel them.” Their ability to earn and do their job is a testimony to the fact that like our leaders, pedestrians and tricycle drivers, we all have our needs, a family to feed or children to dress at the end of the day. These are the Pedicab drivers whom we addressed with the deepest concern.