In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Toque and the surname or paternal family name is Floranda.

Modesto "Mody" Toque Floranda (born November 4) is a Filipino transport activist from the ranks of jeepney and other public utility vehicles drivers who is the President of the militant group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON). In the 2025 Philippine Senate election, he is running under Makabayan.

Early life

Floranda was born to a farmer and fisherfolk in Cavinti, Laguna.[1]

Under Martial Law, his family experienced hardships and oppression. On September 28, 1972, his family and barrio were taken by the Philippine Constabulary as they were struggling for land against an haciendero. Their house and food were destroyed. Because of these experiences, he joined the movement against dictatorship, although he experienced different kinds of torture under the military.[2]

After the dictatorship, he worked in Metro Manila as an FX driver of the route Cubao-Vito Cruz. This is where he realized the different kinds of oppression of the government against FX and jeepney drivers and operators because of high fines and high prices of gasoline.[2]

Activism

As a transport leader, he has led numerous jeepney drivers and operators' transport strikes and other numerous forms of protests opposing the government's jeepney phaseout program[3] as a form of privatization. He first experienced phaseout when he was an FX driver in 2014.[2]

He advocates for pro-people public transportation system in the Philippines that would be achieved through national industrializaiton which includes support for local manufacturing.[1]

He has also spoken against continuous oil price hikes in the Philippines which is due to the value-added tax (VAT), TRAIN Law, and excise tax where about ₱9,000 is lost from jeepney drivers' monthly income. He and PISTON has slammed oil deregulation (particularly the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act No. 8479) and profiteering of oil companies as the reason for oil price hikes.[4][5]

2025 Senate run

Floranda was revealed as part of Makabayan Senatoriable slate on National Heroes Day, August 26, 2024.[6] Floranda challenged the electoral system in the Philippines that those that should be questioned are those coming from political dynasties, that poor people running for position must not have doubts cast about them.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Coalition, PISTON Land Transport (September 29, 2024). "Mody Floranda: transport sector champion and PISTON leader emerges with Makabayan to challenge administration Senate lineup - PISTON Land Transport Coalition". Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "MODY FLORANDA | MAKABAYAN 2025". MAKABAYAN 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  3. ^ Laqui, Ian. "PISTON to join three-day transport strike". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  4. ^ "PISTON slams big-time oil price hike". GMA News Online. January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  5. ^ Taguines, Andrea. "Transport group again calls to scrap Oil Deregulation Law". abs-cbn.com.
  6. ^ Productions, Kodao (August 26, 2024). "Makabayan fields biggest progressive slate for Senate race, presents 10 candidates on Heroes' Day". Kodao Productions. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mody_Floranda
No tags for this post.