ILOILO City – Public transport in this southern city is safe, the city government assured residents and visitors.
“All the resources sang aton city government pati na sang national government agencies nakatutok sa safety sang syudad,” said Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).
Conlu issued the assurance following recent controversies involving two taxis.
He also said the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is on top of the situation despite “minor crimes” happening.
Mayor Jerry Treñas himself is constantly monitoring particularly the peace and order situation in the city.
When he returned on Sept. 14 after an official trip to Vienna, Austria, he immediately convened his executive assistants and department heads to get updates.
He also summoned Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, the city councilors, and officials of the ICPO and Bureau of Fire Protection-Iloilo City.
“Ang public transportation is safe, ang public transportation is the number one priority sa W.H.E.E.L.S. program ni Mayor Treñas,” Conlu stressed.
The W.H.E.E.L.S. (Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability) is Treñas’ administration’s development roadmap.
Early last week, a miscommunication between a taxi driver and his female passenger on which route to take spilled on social media.
Taxi driver Ronald Gape of Guimaras province and passenger and call center agent Lhyssa Calamaan of Barangay Cochero, Molo district eventually explained their sides to Conlu.
“Ang natabu was miscommunication. Si Sir Ronald naghambal it was an honest mistake. Si Ma’am Lhyssa, because babaye sia and a mother, of course nag-panic nga out of route ang pagpuli sa iya balay. Nag-agree sila nga duha nga magpasensyahanay,” said Conlu.Gape said he had no ill intentions on Calamaan.
For her part, Calamaan said she did not intend to defame the taxi driver on social media by posting her experience, but only to create awareness among fellow passengers.
She also clarified that the driver did not harass her.
Meanwhile, the PSTMO is still validating an 18-year-old female passenger’s claim that a taxi driver sexually harassed her.
According to the girl, the taxi driver touched her legs and private parts in Barangay Punong, Lapuz district.
La Paz police said the driver denied the allegation.
Conlu then advised the Ilonggos to save the contact numbers of law enforcement agencies in the city such as the PSTMO and ICPO, as well as the barangay officials for cases of emergency./PN
