Bayaning Tsuper (BTS), a party-list which advocates theinstitutionalization of road safety governance, education, inclusivity and stakeholders' welfare, today filed its certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for the May 2022 polls.
According to lawyer Aminola Abaton, first nominee for the BTS, it is high-time to give a voice to road safety advocacy in Congress.
"Road safety governance has not been treated fairly in terms of legislation. To date, the country lacks comprehensive, integrated, and responsive laws to specifically and effectively address issues, as well as to serve as basis for the institutionalization of road safety initiatives which has led to the senseless loss of lives and property on our streets. The BTS aims to fill this gap," Abaton emphasized.
BTS, composed of road safety advocates, was officially organized on 05 June 2019. Since its creation, it has been advocating and promoting national road safety governance, conducting capability-building, as well as creating livelihood opportunities and linkages among stakeholders especially the marginalized transport groups extremely affected by the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, among others.
"We are determined to continue and strengthen the road safety advocacy in Congress," Abaton noted.
Meanwhile, several transport groups have expressed support for Bayaning Tsuper's electoral bid.
To lend their support, some transport group leaders accompanied the BTS representatives in filing the CONA at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
"Ngayon lang, sa panahon pa ng pandemya, nagkaisa ang hanay ng transport group upang sumuporta sa isang party-list dahil naniniwala kami sa adbokasiya nito na gawing ligtas ang ating mga daan, para sa amin at sa aming mga pasahero. Malaking bagay ito para sa aming hanay. Kaya handang-handa kaming sumuporta sa Bayaning Tsuper upang mailuklok ang tatlong representative nito. Panahon na para magkaroon ng boses para sa ligtas na kalsada sa Kongreso," Pasang Masda President Obet Martin highlighted.
Aside from Pasang Masda President Martin, also present to during the filing of the party-list's CONA were Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, Inc (LTOP) President Orlando Marquez, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) President Ricardo "Boy" Rebano, Alliance Of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of The Philippines (ALTODAP) President Boy Vargas, and National Federation of Transport Cooperatives (NFTC) General Manager Medel Afalla.
