BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will present this afternoon to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. the proposal of the city government aimed at unraveling the knots caused by the city’s Comprehensive Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (CPBO) among the provincial jeepney drivers, operators and commuters.
Defensor disclosed that during his talk with the city mayor on Saturday afternoon regarding the opposition of provincial transport groups against the CPBO, Mabilog asked for more time to finalize the proposal drafted by the city.
Defensor opined that Mabilog fully understands the clamor of provincial jeepney drivers and operators, as well as the riding public.
He added that the city and province have a common target: unity and cooperation in solving the CPBO problem.
In a position paper, signatories from different transport associations in Iloilo province said “the CPBO will never solve the traffic congestion on the city’s streets…”
The CPBO, according to them, specifically identifies only provincial jeepneys, sidewalks vendors, pedicabs and tricycles as the causes of traffic jams but it fails to address the major source of congestion which is the unregulated entry of private vehicles, especially during rush hours, and the uneven enforcement of the “no parking” traffic regulation.
Without naming names, Defensor lambasted some city councilors who are only concerned with themselves, unmindful of the adverse effects of the CPBO to the provincial folks.
“Daw salbaron na lang nila ang syudad. Bahala na ang probinsya sa iya problema,” the governor intoned. “Pero kon indi magbinuligay, kon mahalitan ang probinsya, mahalitan man ang syudad …”
It may be recalled that the Confederation of Iloilo Province Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association Inc. (CIPJODA) had asked the governor to help them.
The governor heard them in a series of consultations and vowed to talk with Mabilog to bring up their concerns.
Among others, Iloilo jeepney drivers and operators want the old car pass system back./PN
