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[av_heading heading=’FREE RIDE FOR 2 DAYS | City hall, prov’l capitol to counter strikers ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Monday, June 5, 2017
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ILOILO City – The city and provincial governments of Iloilo are offering free rides today and tomorrow to counter the two-day transport strike protesting the phaseout of passenger jeepneys 15 years old and older.
The Iloilo City government is deploying a total of 60 vehicles starting at 5 a.m. today.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog also encouraged those with cars to do carpooling or sharing a ride with other people.
City hall departments will mobilize their service vehicles, with augmentation from the Iloilo City Police Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Education, and Bureau of Fire Protection.
According to City Administrator Hernando Galvez, the Armed Forces will make available 6×6 trucks.
Free ride services will be from the transport terminals of Ceres buses in Barangay Tagbak and Barangay Ungka in Jaro district; Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao district and Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district going to city hall and vice versa.
Another pickup point in Jaro is at the ancient belfry at the plaza.
DRIVERS’ BEEF
“More than 24,000 jeepney drivers and operators in Western Visayas will be affected by the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) phaseout plan,” said Edgar Salarda of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) Panay.
He added that with the additional scrappage program, the entire jeepney transportation industry would be a scrap.
Under the modernization program of DoTr, jeepneys 15 years of age and over will no longer be allowed to hit the road and will go directly to scrap shops.
But Salarda said workers in shops giving services to jeepneys will eventually close down and will add their numbers to the growing population of unemployed citizens.
Once the phaseout is implemented, a new corporation shall emerge, the fleet management system, said Salarda.
“Lucky drivers will be employed as contractuals and will receive a daily P500 wage if and only if they reach the quota of P3, 500. But given our P6.50 jeepney fare and in order to reach the quota, the fleet management will surely increase the fare of the riding public,” said Salarda.
PICKUP POINTS
Vehicles will assemble at 4 a.m. in front of city hall prior to their deployment, said Iloilo City Administrator Galvez.
For those outbound or exiting the city, the pickup point is in front of Land Bank of the Philippines in Jaro Plaza.
In La Paz district, the pickup point for those leaving the city is in front of the public market while in the City Proper, the pickup point for downtown-bound passengers is in front of Doane Baptist Church in Bonifacio Driver. For outbound passengers, it is Plaza Libertad.
In Mandurriao, the pickup points for city-bound passengers are in Jibao-an terminal and Oñate at the public plaza before the Civil Service Commission office. Outbound passengers will be picked up at the plaza near Young Arcade.
For Molo and Arevalo city-bound passengers, the pickup point are the Mohon terminal, Arevalo plaza and in front of GT Mall. For outbound passengers, it is in Barangay Avanceña near Iloilo Supermart and across Arevalo plaza or a few meters away from Arevalo Elementary School on Osmeña Street.
BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CAPITOL
Meanwhile, the Iloilo provincial government will provide transport service to its employees and possibly the commuting public.
“It will be business as usual,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. “There is no transport holiday and capitol employees have to report to their offices.”
Defensor issued an executive order recalling all vehicles of the provincial government and cancelling all travel orders.
He ordered that these vehicles be put on standby in designated areas.
The vehicles of the Provincial Engineer’s Office and the General Services Office will be used to transport or pickup employees.
The designated pick-up points and assigned service vehicle that will operate from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. are the following:
* Guimbal plaza – Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) Service Vehicle No. 16
* Janiuay plaza – PEO Service Vehicle No. 17
* Maasin plaza – PEO Service Vehicle No. 18
* Mina plaza – PEO Service Vehicle No. 19
* Alimodian / San Miguel plaza – PEO Service Vehicle No. 20
* Pototan plaza – PEO Service Vehicle No. 22
* Capitol to Provincial Equipment and Motor Pool in Santa Barbara – PEO J.T 1
Vans will also be used to pick-up employees from the Pavia People’s Terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro; Tikod terminal in Baldoza, La Paz; Oton plaza; Mohon terminal; Guimbal plaza and Savanna Iloilo.
An assistance desk manned by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office’s Emergency Responders will also be activated to respond to stranded employees.
In case of emergency, capitol employees can contact Engr. Argel Alasian of the General Services Office at 09185586561 or 509-5062. (With reports from Joel Tormon, Capitol News and Iloilo City PIO/PN)
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