Prov’l drivers hope to strike fair deal with city

BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA

ILOILO – How many car passes should the city government allot to provincial jeepneys?

From four car passes per town, the city government is willing to make it three per transport association, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.

He had a meeting with Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on Monday night.

Yesterday, Defensor conveyed to the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CIPJODA) the city government’s offer.

Proceso Parreño, CIPJODA president, said they would rather have the car passes allocated by percentage per town.

Three car passes per transport association is untenable, he said, because some associations have many members while others have only a motley of jeepney units.

Today, provincial jeepney drivers will discuss proposals and counterproposals with city officials, specifically Councilor Plaridel Nava, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s transportation committee.

The provincial transport leaders will be accompanied by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Transportation chairman, Provincial Board member Jun Mondejar.

The car pass scheme is being imposed to regulate the entry of provincial jeepneys to the city. Its objective is to decongest the city’s streets.

Provincial jeepney drivers are complaining that the current scheme – four car passes per town – is adversely affecting their daily income./PN