MIDC drivers defer planned strike
Public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers belonging to the Metro Iloilo Transport Federation (MITF) have deferred its initial plan to stage a strike following a series of meetings held over the weekend.
MITF spokesperson Rey Cachuela said they are still exhausting all measures to avoid landing to their last recourse which is the conduct of a transport strike.
Cachuela said they tend to meet with the officials of the city government particularly Councilor Erwin Plagata, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on transportation.
Cachuela said all that they wanted is to have their request for suspension of Regulation Ordinance (R.O.) 2007-195 be heard.
"We respect the plan of the city government pertaining to traffic, but we also want them to consider our plight," Cachuela said.
MITF is composed of transport groups under the Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC).
They have opposed the implementation of R.O. 2007-195 which shortened the routes of PUJs from MIDC towns namely, Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara.
The said group contends that the shortening of their routes resulted to reduced income on the part of the drivers and has affected commuters from their towns.
"We received complaints from the people that they find difficulty going to the city with the new route and that it really hurt their pockets as they have to take several rides," Cachuela said.
MITF have already asked the help of their town mayors who responded with a letter request to City Mayor Jerry Treñas asking the suspension of the new traffic ordinance.
Unfortunately, the city council simply noted down the mayors' request.
Later, the MIDC mayors met with Mayor Treñas and eventually changed their earlier plea of suspending the implementation ordinance to merely having it amended.
"We would like to ask the city officials to extend a little bit our routes going to the city so we may also live," said Eli Montero, president of Oton Drivers and Operators Association.
Montero said a little adjustment of their routes would not affect traffic in the city as proven by the recently conducted traffic experimentation.
"We appeal for the understanding of our city officials," Montero said.