Ormoc biz group gives 615 vests to tricycle drivers

Mayor Edward C. Codilla (middle) poses with
Orcham President Rey Evangelista (left),
Ormoc PC Specialist proprietor Rogelio
Reducto and OMTODA president Benedicto
Lambonao during the distribution of chaleco
vests to tricycle drivers. Reducto and
Lambonao are holding grocery bags to be
given to two honest tricycle drivers who
P35,000 cash left behind by a passenger. The
groceries came from Reducto. (Photo by Elvie
Roman-Roa)

THE Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Orcham) distributed 615 chaleco vests to tricycle drivers to curb "colorum" or tricycles that don't have franchise. The colors of the vests match the franchise numbers of the drivers’ tricycles.

Tricycles here are color-coded which are reflected on the franchise number painted on the unit. Tricycles with blue numbers ply south, while those with gold towards north and green west. Red is for the free zone. All tricycles are free to ply the free zone but those with red franchise numbers are limited only to the city proper and outskirts.

Orcham solicited the vests from corporate sponsors. EBR Servitek donated the most number at 100 pieces followed by Super Shell, Dayhagan Shell, and Bantigue Shell gas stations with 50 each. Other donors are Sildomies Oil Corp. (30 pcs.); The Generics Pharmacy, Purefoods, IAL Lodge, Catalino Trading and Du Ek Sam (25 pcs. each);

Ormoc Villa Hotel (20 pcs.); Estong Litson Manok and Dayka Bakery (15 pcs.); Harvester (14 pcs.); Leyte Agri Corp., First Balfour, Savers Depot, Trophys Farm, Hotel Don Felipe, Dub Petroleum, PureBlu, Armea Enterprises, Norkis Distribution Inc. and Ormoc PC Specialist (10 pcs. each).

Also during the distribution, Rogelio Reducto, proprietor of Ormoc PC Specialist, handed two bags of groceries intended for the two tricycle drivers who returned the cash that they found to the owner. Last year, 40-year-old Roel Pinos found a brown envelope left in his tricycle by a passenger.

The envelope contained P35,000 cash and some documents. Pinos consulted his brother Rodel, also a tricycle driver about his find. Despite being victims of super typhoon Yolanda, the brothers decided to return the money to the owner. Reducto said the giving of groceries is a gesture of appreciation for the honesty of the two brothers.