BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Following the LGBTQ+ community’s condemnation of his “homophobic” remark, Councilor Romel Duron apologized to Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna with him he had a heated argument over the renewal of the provisional authority for tricycle operators on Sept. 18.
During the City Council session on Sept. 25, Duron apologized to Cabaluna.
“I am sorry if sometimes I lose my temper. Te sa kadugayon ta, kis-a gaka-irita man kita. Senior citizen naman ta mo. Pasensya gid sa akon kaupdanan kung kis-a nasaway niyo pa kita,” said Duron.
Cabaluna accepted Duron’s apology and expressed hope that fellow legislators would avoid such behavior in the future.
“I appreciate the humility of the good councilor and accept wholeheartedly ang iya pag pangayo sang pasensya,” said Cabaluna.
Cabaluna underscored the need to maintain professionalism and respectful discourse in the City Council, highlighting the importance of focusing on issues without personal attacks.
During their session on Sept. 18, Duron reportedly directed the term “inagi” at Cabaluna.
In a statement, the LGBTQ+ community expressed outrage and emphasized the harmful impact of such language.
“All human beings should be accorded dignity and respect irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” according to the group.
They called on public officials and the community to foster inclusivity and reject discriminatory rhetoric.
The statement also highlighted Iloilo City’s reputation as the “City of Love” and called for an atmosphere of acceptance and safety for all citizens.
Cabaluna and Duron had disagreed over whether tricycle operators should be required to appear before the City Council before the renewal of their provisional authority.
Duron pointed out that the appearance of the applicant is a necessary measure to ensure compliance with the ordinance and assess operational standards, the applicant’s background, nationality, and financial capacity, among others.
During their session last week, Duron, former council’s transportation committee head, questioned the processes being conducted by Cabaluna, who sponsored several ordinances on the renewal of their provisional authority under the city’s new tricycle route plan.
However, Cabaluna said requiring the applicants to appear in the City Council would be a burdensome step for the operators, potentially delaying the renewal process and affecting their livelihood.
Cabaluna said Duron did not also require the personal appearance of the applicants before the City Council when the latter was the chairman of the transportation committee.
Cabaluna sponsored several ordinances seeking to renew some 281 applications of existing tricycle operators that are up for renewal of their provisional authority under the new route plan. He said the applicants have been holders of provisional jurisdiction for a long time.
Cabaluna and Duron also assisted in the mass oath-taking of the tricycle operators and drivers during their session yesterday.
The disagreement between Duron and Cabaluna over requiring tricycle operators to appear before the City Council before renewing their provisional authority is not the first time they have clashed.
The two councilors have previously been involved in heated arguments during the passage of the Tricycle Franchising and Regulations Ordinance of Iloilo City” sponsored by Cabaluna, the council’s transportation committee chairman.
Under the ordinance, the city government will issue a total of 2,618 tricycle franchises to cover the 33 approved routes to ply in seven districts in the city.
Under the ordinance, all tricycle drivers and operators are required to operate within the fixed route granted in their franchise.
The city government will also issue tricycle franchises valid for three years. The tricycle operators will also be issued the motorized tricycle operators permit (MTOP) to determine their authority to operate a tricycle for public transport. It will be valid for one year and renewable every year.
They are also prohibited from operating on national highways according to the provision of the existing law. The city government, through the Public Safety and Traffic Management Office (PSTMO), will adopt color coding for each tricycle operating in each district.
Mere violations of traffic rules and regulations are not grounds for impounding the tricycle unit, except when the tricycle is used to perpetrate a crime, operates without the valid franchise or operator’s permit, or operator his unit using a fictitious operator’s permit.
Tricycle drivers who operate the tricycle for hire without a valid franchise or operator’s permit will be fined not more than P1,000.
The ordinance states that the maximum number of units per fixed route may be adjusted as demand arises or other circumstances that would affect the viability of the franchises awarded or their ability to cater to the riding public./PN
