Trisikad, sikad, or padyak is the most common means of mass transportation in the Philippines.
It can be difficult to pin down this mode of transportation’s origins. Legend has it that the country’s first one was built in Tondo, Metro Manila, in the north. Many people rely on bike rickshaws in the Philippines because they are accessible, affordable, and comfortable to ride.
It can be difficult to pin down this mode of transportation’s origins. Legend has it that the country’s first one was built in Tondo, Metro Manila, in the north. Many people rely on bike rickshaws in the Philippines because they are accessible, affordable, and comfortable to ride.
A trisikad can come in different colors and styles, like the jeepneys and other local transportation seen in the streets it is full of life and vibrant to attract passengers and of course the trademark of the colorful Filipino culture.
Banga is one of the municipalities in Aklan that is home to many traysikad that is used daily by commuters. They can be seen near the public market in a lane waiting for passengers that need to be taken in all parts of the Poblacion and other nearby barangays, with a 2-passenger capacity per sikad and a 10 peso fare per head.
Thirty-year-old Moises Resolta is one of the traysikad drivers in the municipality, according to him he’s been in the service for three years. “Malaki talaga ‘yung tulong niya sa pang araw-araw, kahit papaano nabibili ko ang pangangailangan ng pamilya ko, mga pangangailangan ng mga pinag-aaral ko sa bahay.
Moises also included that after working two contractual jobs, one here in Aklan and the other in Iloilo, he decided to just stay in Banga and drive a trysikad. “Mahirap kasi ‘yung contractual ka po, mhirap mawalan ng trabaho, walang makakain pamilya ko.
Moises and other trisikad drivers depend on passengers to feed their families every day, thus this is very important to them and to the community.
Contractualization in the country
In the Philippines, the use of labor contracting has led to problems and worries. The “5-5-5” arrangement, in which contractual employees are fired after five months and then rehired for another five, is foremost among these problems. Despite the ban on repeatedly hiring contract workers, there have been stories of contractors and principals getting around the rule requiring security of tenure.
According to Institute for Labor Studies (ILS), the labor market became unstable as a result of this labor contracting system, depriving contractual workers of their entitlement to respectable employment.
Just like Moises and other workers have experienced contractualization and have been forced to look for new jobs to survive. As this system is still actively happening in the labor force the equality and rights for our laborers will still not be given. Still, many families will struggle and starve.
Everyday Survival
Traisikad drivers are up at dawn to get ready and to get in line as they wait for students and workers early in the morning, ready to face the scorching heat to bring passengers to their destinations.
Trisikads support numerous otherwise idle breadwinners. Even though, on average, a pedal-pusher only makes P100 per day or so after deducting 10 pesos for each passenger. “Napapagkasya ko naman kinkita ko, lalo na ako ang inaasahan sa bahay talaga”.
Just like others, Moises has also dreams that he wanted to do like working abroad using the skills in wielding that he learned in TESDA. His hard work and perseverance helped his younger siblings to be able to finish their high school degrees, now in their college journeys. As every day, Moises and other trisikad drivers are inspired to keep thrusting and survive everyday life, for themselves and their loved ones.
As the thirty-year-old driver always says to his younger siblings study well and always do your best to achieve your dreams as each one is capable of doing it; happiness and success will always come to those who try and strive.
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