ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved an ordinance granting Megaworld Corp. the authority to establish and operate a transport hub at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district.
The SP acted favorably to the committee report of Councilor Plaridel Nava, chairperson of the committee on transportation, which noted that some 25,000 business process outsourcing employees from nearby municipalities and provinces needed transportation round the clock, not to mention other workers within the vicinity of the Iloilo Business Park that may reach up to 30,000 people.
During Nava’s committee hearings, Megaworld submitted a perspective of the proposed transport hub that would cater to UV Express (utility vans), tourist transport vans and shuttle vehicles with valid and existing franchises from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu, on the other hand, said the proposed transport hub would be the pilot terminal of modern jeepneys that will be plying within the Iloilo Business Park.
“The transport hub shall be used exclusively for and limited only to UV Express, tourist and chartered vans and bus, and shuttle buses with valid and existing franchises issued by LTFRB of which the point of destination and/or point of origin shall be Megaworld Corp., Iloilo Business Park,” the ordinance read.
However, the ordinance allows city loops public utility jeepneys and taxis to pick up and deliver passengers within the parking space provided in the transport hub.
No fees of any kind for the use of the parking space shall be imposed and collected from drivers and operators of city loop public utility jeepneys and taxis.
“The authority granted to Megaworld shall have a period of 20 years unless otherwise revoked by the city government when public convenience, public safety and order require,” the ordinance further read./PN
