BALANGA CITY, Bataan - The launching of city government's ''Tricycle Driver: Dangal ng Balangueño'' program, a number of tricycle drivers here are now proud of being called ''Dangal.''
Apparently adhering to the program's noble intention, a poor tricycle returned some P11,800 in cash left behind by an unidentified passenger over the weekend.
Rodolfo Estero, the sole breadwinner of his family in Barangay Cataning, this city, did not think twice when he found the cash money inside his tricycle and immediately returned it to its rightful owner.
''Noong nakita kong may naiwang pera sa aking tricycle ay 'di na ako nagdalawang isip at ipinagbigay-alam ko agad sa marshal para maibalik sa tunay na may-ari dahil hindi ko naman kilala kung sino 'yung naging pasahero ko,'' said Estero in an interview made by the Manila Bulletin.
The marshal, now playing a major role in maintaining peace and order here, under Engineer Dennis Mariano, immediately searched the owner who was later identified later as Victor Mariano of Omboy, Abucay town, also in Bataan.
''Laking tuwa ko nung ibalik sa akin ng mga marshal itong pera ko dahil hindi ko na ini-expect na maisuli sa akin dahil may cash money kasi sa wallet ko. Iniisip ko na lang na sana ibalik nila 'yung mga importanteng dokumento. Pero pati pera isinauli nila,'' said the visibly-happy owner who cannot believe that his money was returned by the tricycle driver.
The ''Tricycle Driver: Dangal ng Balangueño'' was actually launched way back during the time of Mayor Abet S. Garcia in the 90s, now congressman of Bataan's 2nd District, in his bid to give importance and recognition to the dedication and heroism of the Balangueños, particularly the tricycle drivers in this city.
When City Mayor Joet S. Garcia, younger brother of the solon, won the mayorship of this component city in 2007, he had continued to give recognition on the dedication of tricycle drivers, which further inspired them to become ''Dangal ng Balangueño.''
Balanga City is now one of the most progressive in the region.
