City is determined to continue traffic experiment—Plagata
The demands set forth by the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) fell on deaf ears as the city government's Traffic Technical Working Group (TWG) is determined to continue the traffic experimentation until next month.
City Councilor Erwin Plagata, TWG head, stressed that the terms laid down by Icada is "not acceptable."
"It's the same statement they (Icada) made since the traffic experimentation started," noted Plagata.
Plagata said they will not waive their obligation to fix the city's traffic just because of the opinion of Icada led by its president Nick Dalisay. "They are a party of interest in the traffic experimentation," Plagata said, adding "We will not attend to their call, it is baseless."
"Groups under Icada objected to the traffic experimentation from the start. They refused to recognize the importance of the traffic experimentation. They do not want the TWG to initiate changes in their routes," Plagata said.
Different drivers groups under Icada recently came out with a position paper asking that the traffic experimentation be stopped as it affected their daily earnings and same time did not solve the city's traffic problems.
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.
Plagata, who is also the chair of committee on transportation, communication and public utilities of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said they will not allow the organization to divert the TWG's objectives.
The traffic scheme should benefit all sectors not just one sector especially the Icada, he said.
"They only want the traffic scheme to be favorable to them. We will not lose focus on our job just because of their opposition," the councilor added.
Plagata explained that drivers organizations from the then Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC) are now members of the Icada.
They want the traffic experimentation to stop to allow the MIDC routes to again enter the city's main streets, Plagata said.
He said they want to give more priority to the city loop drivers rather than those from the MIDC routes which include PUJs from Leganes, San Miguel Pavia and Sta. Barbara.