Drivers end strike
Instead of bowing down to pressure, City Mayor Jerry Treñas called on drivers of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) belonging to towns under the defunct Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC) to bear the inconvenience as what the city is doing is for the good of the general public.
Treñas met with Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. and MIDC town mayors the other day to address the concerns of the jeepney drivers affected by the traffic experimentation being implemented by the city government.
PUJs from MIDC towns namely Oton, Leganes, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara stayed off the streets on Monday and Tuesday to show their protest to the traffic experiment which shortened their existing routes. They resumed operations yesterday.
The meeting facilitated by Gov. Tupas was attended by Pavia Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, San Miguel Mayor Greg Villarico, Oton Mayor Vincent Flores, Sta. Barbara Mayor Isabelo Maquino, Leganes Mayor Adolfo Jaen and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regional director Porfirio Clavel.
Treñas maintained that the city government would go on with the 30-day traffic experimentation to see if it helps address the city's traffic problem.
Treñas was saddened by the strike conducted by the drivers as it was barely a week since the experimentation was implemented.
He said it is just normal that resistance occurs every time change is effected but he appealed for the drivers' understanding and open-mindedness.
Treñas further said that he has no vested interest with regard to the conduct of traffic experimentation. He said they are just looking for ways to address the city's worsening traffic problem.
He added that the traffic experimentation will not only affect provincial PUJs but also the city loop PUJs. In fact, he said an executive order is underway to make some rerouting on certain city loop PUJs.