MUDSLINGING
Transport groups at war over PBO

By Erly C. Garcia and Jeehan V. Fernandez

Transport groups in the city and province of Iloilo have opposing views as to whether or not the city government should repeal the Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO).

Because of this, the first day of the transport strike called for the said cause failed to completely paralyze transportation in the city and province.

The Federation of Iloilo Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Fejoda) and the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) on Saturday called for a transport strike March 7 and 8 in protest of the PBO.

However, not all of the member associations of the two umbrella transport organizations heeded the call for strike.

Groups under Icada's Rey Cachuela and Fejoda's Oting Jallorina did not join the strike saying they do not support the call to repeal the PBO.

Speaking over Aksyon Radyo Monday morning, Cachuela and Jallorina said the group who called for the transport strike only misleads the people as transport groups from the city and province of Iloilo have no problem with the PBO.

Cachuela said there are only minor differences but the city is doing something to address it soon.

The Pumuluyo Kontra PBO in a meeting last Saturday decided to hold a transport strike to emphasize with the city government the need to repeal the PBO, which they claim causes much burden on both the drivers and the commuters.

A faction of the Icada and Fejoda support the Pumuluyo Kontra PBO on the said call.

Edgar Salarda, who claims to be the legitimate representative of the Icada, said it is Cachuela and Jallorina who mislead the people as regards the PBO issue.

Salarda said both of them wanted the PBO to remain since they are earning from the car pass scheme.

He even pointed out that Cachuela and Jallorina no longer represent the drivers sector since they are already part of the city's Task Force Trapik.

The News Today observed that many public utility jeepneys within the city proper carry on their regular routes despite the call for a strike that started 12:00 a.m. Monday, and to end 12 midnight of Tuesday.

Contrary to the declaration of the protesters that 95 per cent of PUVs from the municipalities stopped operating, several passenger jeepneys from the southern, central and northern lines went on with their regular trips until the afternoon.

Bus liners like Ceres of the Vallacar Transit Inc. also continued operation.

Economic activity in the city also was not affected with the malls and other commercial establishments continuing with their business.

Classes in some schools were suspended but majority continued holding classes.

Mayor Jerry Treñas in an interview said the holding of the transport strike is uncalled for. He said the transport groups could have just presented their concerns with the city to be acted upon.

Treñas said he would look in the grievances against the implementation of the PBO but stressed that the ordinance would not be withdrawn as it is seen as a big help in easing out traffic in the city.

It was learned that the Pumuluyo Kontra PBO is considering filing charges against the city government as they question the "legality" of the ordinance.

The group is composed of transport associations under Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON- Panay), City Loop of Iloilo Owners and Drivers Jeepney Association (CLIODJA) and Hugpong Transport; local officials; people's organizations such as Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (Pamanggas), Bayan, Iloilo Youth and Student Alliance (IYSA); party-list group Bayan Muna and commuters represented by Erna Doromal.

The group reiterated that “the ordinance did not answer the traffic problem but it hurts the commuters and majority of the provincial drivers and operators as well as the city loop transport groups”.

PISTON spokesman Jun Abellon stressed that since 2003, the transport sector had been protesting the execution of the PBO. He said, their basis why PBO should be scrapped is that the ordinance is “pro-capitalists”.

Abellon added that the riding public is stricken by the increase in fare while their salaries remained the same. Likewise, he said that drivers of Jaro CPU route would experience 40 percent drop in income since they rely greatly on the bulk of passengers from Aleosan and Northern lines unloaded in Jaro Plaza .

SM City-Arrastre drivers' association president Gaspar Grejate noted the ordinance lacked public consultation. The CLIODJA even cited that their proposals were never heard. He added that they in the transport sector should join their efforts and sue the city government.

The alliance also argued that traffic congestion occurs along Iznart, JM Basa , Gen. Luna, Bonifacio Drive and Luna streets, but none of these thoroughfares are being utilized by provincial buses and jeepneys.

The group added that data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that PUVs are not the main cause of traffic jams since it comprise only about 13 percent compared to the 86.2 percent number of government and private vehicles.

The group's spokesperson Doromal in an earlier interview with The News Today said the PBO is “selective and discriminating” since the MIDC bound routes are allowed to enter the city.      

“After we have assessed the PBO, we would continue our protest until the city government would repeal it,” she added.

With this, the group strongly demands to repeal the PBO and adopt schemes that will reduce traffic problems and provide better transportation services to the people. They propose the strict implementation of good ordinances like “no parking and no jaywalking”; rationalization of traffic routes and signs throughout the city; maximizing the use of existing roads within the city proper; and regulation of both private and public vehicles at particular streets and time through color-coding or odd-even scheme.

Further, they urge the passage of an ordinance that will prohibit the issuance of new franchise in the city loop particularly coming from nearby municipalities; regulation of Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC) bound   routes by prohibiting them in passing through the center of the city; and widening of narrow roads and construction of additional road networks.