Entry of Oton jeepneys in city loop routes opposed
Two drivers associations yesterday met with Mayor Jerry Treñas to protest the city's experimentation scheme that allowed the entry of Oton Anhawan and Oton Derecho jeepneys into the city loop routes.
The drivers led by Jesus Wacay, president of the Timawa Operators and Drivers Association, asked for a reconsideration of the new scheme. Wacay was accompanied by Noel Garcia, president of the Compania Fundidor Operators and Drivers Association (Comfuda).
In their letter addressed to Treñas, the drivers cited several reasons on why the city government must stop the entry of Oton Anhawan and Oton Derecho on routes that they also traverse everyday to earn their living. The Oton jeepneys overlapped their routes.
The letter dated September 23, 2008 was endorsed by Icajoda president Benny Espinosa. Copies of the letter were also furnished to Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog, Councilor Erwin Plagata, chair of the committee on transportation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and all the city councilors.
They said the issuance of the executive order that prompted the Traffic Technical Working Group to allow the entry of the Oton routes was done without proper consultation from the City Loops Alliance Association (Icajoda). In return, it affected the Timoda and Comfdu.
The drivers also contested that they experienced 40-50 percent drop of their passengers since the traffic experimentation scheme started on September 15, 2008.
The two affected drivers associations also said the entry of Oton jeepneys caused traffic congestion along General Luna (John B. Lacson) and Infante (Iloilo Doctors Hospital).
The same scheme will likewise be a precedent for other MIDC (now MIGEDC) transport groups like Sta. Barbara and Leganes to also ask favors from the city that they be allowed to enter in the future.