PBO in full force by Feb. 16; terminal fee shoves drivers from ITGSI terminal

By Leny G. Gabo and Jeehan Fernandez

After implementing the perimeter boundary ordinance among the PUVs from the central lines the city government will also implement the same for vehicles from northern lines, Aleosan and the southern lines this coming February 16.

“It will be fully implemented by February 16,” stressed Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas despite some problems related to the ordinance's initial implementation Friday last week.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod committee on transportation, communication, energy and public utilities had favorably endorsed the franchises of the terminal operators in Brgy . Tagbak Jaro for northern lines, Brgy . Hibao - an Norte, Mandurriao for Aleosan and Brgy . Ticud , Lapaz for northern Iloilo coastal lines.

South-bound PUVs on the other hand will utilize as their terminal portion of the Fishing Port Complex in Molo .

Reportedly, the proposed terminals for the southern lines situated in barangays Sto . Domingo and Mohon , Arevalo , Iloilo City are still being developed.   

To note, the partial execution of the controversial ordinance has taken effect on February 4, with the Central Line PUVs making their trips in and out of the perimeter terminals in Brgy . Ungka , Jaro , Iloilo City .  

However, some drivers have also refused to park inside Iloilo Terminal and General Services Inc. (ITGSI) terminal reportedly due to its high charging fees. Some of them have settled to utilize the nearby terminal at Brgy . Ungka II, Pavia , Iloilo City .

Public Utility Vehicles ( PUVs ) coming from the towns of Janiuay , Lambunao , Calinog , New Lucena and Maasin did not use the ITGSI terminal in Brgy . Ungka , Jaro .

Instead, the PUVs coming from said towns parked at a vacant lot in Brgy . Ungka II, Pavia , some 100 meters away from the ITGSI terminal.

Drivers interviewed by The News Today clamored that the terminal fee of 20 pesos imposed by the ITGSI terminal management is too excessive.

ITGSI charges 20 pesos on every passenger jeepney with a 25-passenger capacity using the terminal.

Vehicle For Hire (VFH) and Fil -Cabs are also charged 20 pesos per trip. Meanwhile, passenger jeepneys with capacity of 26 up to 30 passengers has to pay 30 pesos and Mini Bus or Buses are charged 40 pesos before departure from the terminal.

It was observed that some vehicles coming from Cabatuan , Badiangan , Maasin and Tapaz , Capiz are only using the ITGSI terminal.

“The 20 pesos terminal fee charged in every trip could already be used to buy additional fuel for our vehicles,” one jeepney driver said.

Celso Racion , president of the Cabatuan Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association also complained the ten-minute waiting time required at the ITGSI terminal.

He said there might be times when the jeepney could not be filled up within the ten-minute waiting time so the fixed terminal fee would be unfair.

The News Today learned that Victoriano Solvidea owns the vacant lot in Ungka II being used by protesting drivers.

It does not have operating permit from the municipality of Pavia yet but it was given clearance by the barangay captain.

In the said parking area PUVs are charged 10 pesos per trip.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has called on the drivers parking in the Pavia lot to cooperate with the city government in the implementation of the PBO.

Meanwhile, Porfirio Clavel , regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned the drivers that they may be charged of trip-cutting considering that their franchise state that their point of destination is the City of Iloilo.