Transport groups want traffic experiment stopped
Drivers associations in the city and province of Iloilo have called on the city government to stop implementing the traffic experimentation as it does not address the existing traffic problem.
In a position paper addressed to City Councilor Erwin Plagata, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Transportation, the group led by Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Associations (Icada) president Nick Dalisay pointed out that the traffic experimentation which has been going on for more than a month has affected their livelihood while it did not solve the city's traffic problem.
Fearing that the traffic experimentation will again be extended after its termination this December 30, 2007 the group called on Plagata to stop the experimentation and instead formulate measures that would affectively address the problem.
In their position paper the group termed the traffic experimentation "futile" because public utility jeepneys (PUJs) "comprise only one-fourth of the volume of vehicles plying the city."
"Thus, to insist on rerouting and rerouting (sic) the PUJ's to address the traffic problem is a useless exercise which has only resulted to additional fare expense for the commuters and lessened income for the drivers and small operators alike," the group said.
The group laid down their so-called alternative proposals in solving the city's traffic problem. First, regulate all private vehicles along major roads on selective time periods. Second, a call for the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to immediately stop granting additional new PUJ franchises and the strict implementation of one-out, one-in policy on franchises for public utility jeepneys. Third, strictly implement the no parking policy along major roads in the city.
"We are very much willing to cooperate with efforts to address this problem. We appeal however that efforts in addressing this problem should not be one sided and PUJ oriented which is based on the premise that the PUJs are causing the problem and regulation of the PUJs will solve this problem," the group said.
The position paper was signed by 17 officials of various drivers associations affiliated with Icada.
Earlier, Plagata said that they have gathered positive feedbacks on the rerouting of PUJs belonging to the Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC).
He said their regular monitoring showed that traffic flow in downtown Iloilo City had improved because of the traffic experimentation.
The traffic experimentation was extended for another month, to end on December 30 this year, because of the non-completion of the Infante flyover project.