PBO's full operation doomed

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

It seems that the scheduled full implementation of the Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO) on February 16 will not materialize.

This, after the Sangguniang Panglungsod on Wednesday did not approve the proposed ordinance granting franchise to four terminal owners.

The terminal operators who applied for a franchise are Alberto Ladrido for North-Central Transport Terminal, Inc. at Brgy . Tagbak in Jaro District; Arnold Bilbao ( Aleosan Transport Terminal ( Brgy . Hibao - an Norte, Mandurriao , Iloilo City ); and Justina Chua (Villa Tambilano Terminal Services) and Wilfredo Ngipin ( Lapaz Owners and Drivers Association, Inc.), both in Brgy . Ticud , Lapaz , Iloilo City .

Voting 8-5 and one abstention, the SP has rejected the applications to operate terminals at the respective perimeter boundary areas as provided by the Regulation Ordinance No. 2004-268.

Majority of the councilors believed the applicant terminals do not have complete facilities as required by the ordinance.

Those who objected the granting of franchise to said terminals were Councilors Stevie Rey Abitang , Julienne Baronda , Ramon Cua-Locsin , Ely Estante , Merci Drilon -Garcia, Jed Mabilog , Erwin Plagata and Perla Zulueta .

Those who voted in favor of the operations of said terminals were Councilors Joe Espinosa III, Jeffrey Ganzon , Marietta Orleans and Armand Parcon . Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga abstained.

Earlier, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said that by February 16, there would be complete enforcement of the Perimeter Boundary Ordinance as he has already endorsed the approval of the franchises of the applicant terminals to the City Council.

To note, the selective implementation of the ordinance for public utility vehicles plying the Central Lines was spurred by a court order urging the city government to immediately enforce the franchise ordinance it had granted to Iloilo Terminal and General Services Inc. (ITGSI ) which operates a terminal in Brgy . Ungka , Jaro , Iloilo City .

However, some drivers clamored of the high charging fees imposed by the ITGSI reason why they opted to park at the nearby vacant lot in Brgy . Ungka II, Pavia , Iloilo City .

Treñas noted that the affected transport groups had asked for the reduction of terminal rates. He pointed out that he also brought to the attention of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) with regards to the “trip-cutting” complaints by passengers.  

Treñas said the request of the provincials PUVs to be given a car pass in going to the Iloilo Terminal Market would depend on the city council and the confirmation of the city's traffic management chief.

The PBO had been delayed for quite sometime with the issue of how ready are the terminal facilities and the availability of city loop PUJs to cater to the riding public. Various sectors particularly the transport groups and vendors have also opposed the inconvenience caused by the ordinance.