Honesty still thrives among trike drivers

Monday, July 04

Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico (center) is seen receiving the mobile phone from Salvador Drizon III. Behind them are the members of the Diamond Subd Trycycle Operators and Drivers Association (DIASTODA).

Angeles City - A tricycle driver from Diamond Subdivision recently turned over an expensive mobile phone to its owner. This was the announcement made by Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism – Region III in a press statement issued recently.

Tiotuico said that he was very much elated by the honest gesture of trike driver Mr. Salvador Dizon III, a resident of Brgy. Clark M. Recto, Angeles City, who is a member of the Diamond Subd Tricycle Operator and Driver Association (DIASTODA) led by its president Nel Allanigue . The owner of the mobile phone is Mr. Venky Venkatesan, an Indian national working at Sutherland in Clark as program manager for almost 2 years already.

The turn-over rites took place at Marlim Mansions Hotel where the tourism department is conducting a multi-agency sponsored seminar on effective customer service the objective of which is to train drivers on honesty, value formation and customer relations in the light of an unprecedented increase in the rate of air passenger arrivals via Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga. The driver is one of the first batch of participants which started June 27 and ends on July 8. The program is meant to professionalize the services of the city public transport sector to make the city a tourist-friendly community. Some 700 drivers are expected to finish the course during the 10-day training period. An awards system will soon be put together to motivate them to work hard for the improvement of the city’s tourism image and reputation.

Buddy, as known to his peers in the public transport sector, is a father of four and has been in the service for the last 16 years. He timidly said that this is not the first time he returned valuables left inside his trike. There were already 15 cases of lost valuables and each time the owners of such item were not disappointed, he said.

For his part, Mr. Venkatesan was profuse in his show of gracious appreciation to Buddy saying that the members of the Diamond trike association are very well known to be honest, courteous and friendly to tourists. He has been patronizing the services of the association for the last two years.

The project is co-partnered Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO, Clark Development Corporation (Tourism Office), Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC), Hotels and Restaurants of Pampanga (HARP), Pampanga Agents Travel Society (PATS), Alliance of Travel & Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP), Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCAD), Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCII), Balibago Barangay Council, and Philippine National Police – Angeles City (PNP)