DOT chief double-checks charges, background of city's accuser
Yes, Iloilo does have a problem with abusive taxi drivers thus a valid complaint and observation. But no, the city could not be the "dirtiest in the Philippines" as tagged by a supposed European envoy.
Yet for whatever it is worth and in order to fully address the matter, Tourism Western Visayas Director Edwin Trompeta now decided, the best way to find out is establish the identity of the complainant and basis for the complaint.
The "dirty tag" as reported was attributed to one Dr. Lee Stranssenberg, purportedly the Tourism chief of the powerful European Union (EU). The impression marked with "displeasure and disgust" was reportedly due to an Iloilo visit in January gone really wrong.
For instance, the city was supposedly in a very dirty state, the drivers very dishonest and over-all Iloilo stay very unpleasant. As such, a call was made to other foreigners to stay away from Iloilo and instead go elsewhere in the Philippines.
"We admit that we are really having problems and has received numerous complaints against our taxi drivers. That is valid but the rest of the remark, I beg to disagree, refute and dispute the statement. Nevertheless, my office is verifying what has been emailed and rest assured we are doing everything to resolve that," Trompeta said in a The News Today interview.
Similar sentiments shared by City Councilor Ely Estante who said he could personally vouch for the city's clean-up drive.
"It is really unfair that such sweeping statement is made. But Director Trompeta is making the right decision to have the complaints checked and duly addressed. Maybe there are other sectors who are out to discredit Iloilo however I hope we can prove our critics wrong," Estante, a veteran broadcast journalist turned City-Councilor said.
Initial check made by TNT in the EU site showed no "Dr. Lee W. Stranssenberg" nor any "Tourism Chief."