EDITORIAL

PBO raucous

At last, the controversial Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO) has been fully implemented in Iloilo City .

City Mayor Jerry Treñas indeed showed his worth by standing by his earlier declaration to fully implement the PBO February 16 come hell or high water.

However, here comes another challenge to the city's chief executive. Some sectors are questioning the legality of the ordinance, more so its social acceptability. They wanted the ordinance repealed for the reason that it merely adds burden to the people.

The PBO has been stalled for more than two years due to conflicts in some of its provisions.

Extensive deliberations were made in the City Council in order to amend it. Eventually, the amended ordinance was passed.

For unexplainable reasons though the amended ordinance, although already approved, still was not implemented. Until the time came when a terminal operator brought a legal action against the city government for failing to implement it.

With the court favoring the plaintiff the city has no choice but to implement the ordinance.

On February 4 the PBO was initially implemented for the central line PUVs. And to completely legitimize the ordinance Mayor Treñas implemented it fully February 16 despite the fact that the city council did not grant franchises to the four other terminals.

At the onset, Mayor Treñas still has to face many obstacles regarding the PBO implementation. But at least he has proven his worth. We just hope that in the midst of all the raucous created by the PBO the city's chief executive would not forget the other concerns the city is facing like the socialized housing scam which until now has not been resolved.