Thus said embattled Federation of Pampanga Truckers, Inc. (FPTI) President Mike Tapang reacting to the rally of truckers against Gov. Eddie Panlilio at the capitol on Monday.
“Our group might rally as well if we won’t follow what was agreed upon,” added Tapang in a jest.
Tapang is the head of the Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked to set the rules and guidelines in implementing Ordinance 261.
But FPTI officials led by Dong Lacsamana had sought for the removal of Tapang as president and TWG head. They have a FPTI board resolution sacking Tapang as president and taking his post is Lacsamana.
Tapang questioned the “intention of Lacsamana for hotly pursuing” the leadership of the federation.
Tapang, a former Pampanga Electric Cooperative II board director in Porac, said Lacsamana’s group should have replaced him with FPTI Vice President Freddie Enriguez if “they really wanted to follow the rules.”
“They will not put the second in command, Mr. Enriguez, because he doesn ‘t believe in their intention. Ours is a genuine concern for the welfare of the quarry industry,” said Tapang.
He disclosed that there will be no more added fees on sand tax based on the new ordinance set for implementation on January 9.
“No more additional funds to take care of. I wonder why Lacsamana’s group was still interested,” he said.
Tapang said Lacsamana was welcomed to air their complaints but “it should be resolve within themselves as members.”
He added that “it’s an internal problem and we should not involved public officials such as board members and governors.”
The truckers are protesting the implementing rules and guidelines of the new ordinance, notably the recommendation to cut the added side panels of their trucks to limit the volume of sand they carry. They added that the “issue here is not to cut or not to cut but the weight.”
Panlilio vowed to apprehend those trucks who will not follow rules that the TWG recommended.
The first-term governor disclosed that some 1,500 trucks have applied for accreditation and have complied with the “cutting provisions.”
