ILOILO City – After threatening to pull out the city government’s traffic aides from the Ungka flyover area, Mayor Jerry Treñas decided to let them continue helping manage the traffic there.
“Ipabilin ta lang anay. Bag-o lang kami nag-istoryahanay ni gobernador (Arthur Defensor Jr.). Nag-apologize man siya regarding sa empleyado ‘ya bala nga naga-atake sa syudad. Ti, intindihan ta man ‘na,” Treñas said yesterday afternoon.
The mayor didn’t take kindly to an unnamed critic from the provincial government that he said was singling out the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) for the traffic congestion in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district and Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
The worsening traffic congestion in the area is due to the prolonged closure of the defective Ungka flyover – a project of the national government – since September 2022.
“Ang indi ko lang nauyunan, daw nanamian lang ‘ya bala ang iban nga obrahon punching bag ang taga-syudad. Ti, indi man na pwede, especially for those who are appointed employees. You are appointed employees, pinsaron niyo kon maghambal kamo dala mo ang imo opisina. Ti, kon gaobra ka da sa probinsya, na-mean sina gali si gobernador gahambal sa imo amo na obrahon mo, atakehon mo ang syudad. Yuta mo eh!” Treñas said.
For reconsidering his decision, the mayor cited city businessmen complaining to him that their salespeople reported to work late yesterday due to the traffic congestion at the Ungka flyover area.
“We will, through the PSTMO, help in the traffic (management) even if our personnel are attacked by some quarters,” said Treñas.
He also said he would wait for the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 regarding the status of the defective flyover during the Regional Development Council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9.
“Waay kita na nagpaobra. Indi ‘na ‘ya aton project, iya ‘na sang national government . So basulon niyo ang aton da PSTMO, daw indi naman ‘na husto. I will not allow anyone to belittle employees of the city government for something that is not their own fault. And if they are willing to fight it out, I am ready. They can line up, I am ready to face them,” the city mayor added.
The P680-million newly-built but defective Ungka flyover was fully opened to traffic on Sept. 5, 2022 but was closed after just two weeks due to vertical displacement. Three of its piers were sinking. DPWH did not give a timetable for the repair./PN
