Transport group wants new officials to lower fines
Transport organizations under the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Associations (ICADA) have appealed to the incoming city officials to reduce the fines and penalties imposed on drivers violating traffic ordinances.
ICADA president Nick Dalisay, however, stressed that they are not tolerating erring drivers but what they are asking are lesser fines and penalties imposed by the city government.
He said the city government normally imposes a fine ranging from P300 to P500.
Dalisay said the excessive fines hurt the driver’s daily average income which is only about P300 to P500 because they have to pay the jeepney rental and gasoline expenses.
Dalisay is asking the new set of local officials to lower the fines so that the drivers can afford to pay and retrieve their confiscated driver’s license immediately once they caught.
“I am appealing to the new city council and new city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for understanding and compassion on our plight. The drivers can barely afford to send their children to school and provide adequate food for the family,” he added.
The ICADA president boasts of more than 7,000 members coming from 21 member associations plying the city routes. The city loop jeepneys have different specific routes and are not allowed to enter areas not included in their franchise.
Dalisay stressed that some drivers are now careful in plying the streets but some are not yet knowledgeable on the various new loading and unloading sites which change so often.
