Oton vice mayor hits city over PBO issue
Olivares
Sentiments for and against the transport strike of provincial jeepneys highlighted yesterday's special session of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
This, as board members themselves took respective positions on the three-day strike called by provincial transport groups at odds with the city government's Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO).
Aired by Oton Vice Mayor Niel Olivares, the controversial PBO was the first issue of concern tackled by the SP body in the out-of-town special session in San Joaquin, Iloilo. Within minutes to his allotted time, Vice Mayor Olivares under suspended rules used his chance to gripe over the city government officials particularly at Councilor Erwin 'Tongtong' Plagata. Plagata is chairman of the city council's Committee on Transportation.
Olivares decried what he said were outright disregard of the city government to the repeated appeals for consideration by the Oton transport group. In fact, Olivares shared with the SP body and other first district town officials present how Plagata made clear his position – he is only out to protect the interests of the city and city alone.
"Wala siya labot sa taga-probinsya (He does not care about those in the province)," Vice Mayor Olivares lamented.
"It is unfair treatment that the city government is giving to Oton public utility jeepneys (PUJs). We have appealed several times but to no avail. For now, we are conducting multisectoral meeting to come up with a communal action…We would like to inform the SP that we have tried everything pero wala gid kami ginpamatian. Lain ang taktika sang ciudad. Inhuman gid ang treatment nila sa amon (but they never listened to us. They have a strange tactic. Their treatment on us is inhumane)."
Asked further by Board Member Jeneda Salcedo on the issue, Olivares called Oton's relations with the city as "very strained… I hope it does not reach the point where we will have to cut off the water supply for the city."
Located in Oton are four water pumping stations of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
Olivares further said that plans are underway to file legal charges while adding that they are seeking the support of Oton residents who are voters of the city.
"Amo na siguro ang lenguahe nga maintindihan sang ciudad (Maybe that is the kind of talking that the city will understand)," the vice mayor quipped.
Third District Board Member Mariano Malones expressed full support on the sentiments of Oton saying, "why don't you extend the strike to one week?" Such, Malones said seemed necessary if only for the city government to feel that they need the province to co-exist with.
Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr. for his part raised a query as to whether the city by passing the PBO violated franchise privileges granted to the PUJs. Sure, the city is mandated to regulate its territorial jurisdiction including roads and bridges. Yet with such, Board Member Defensor Jr. noted, the idea is for the national government approved franchises not to be in any way nullified.
The PBO restricts provincial jeepneys on particular city terminals and prohibits entry or passage to major city streets. One possibility, Defensor Jr. said, that may be considered a violation on the franchise holders.
With no resolution in sight, Vice Governor Rolex Suplico offered to the body an SP to SP dialogue. First District Board Member Richard Garin likened the move to a "bicameral meeting" of the Senate and Lower House in cases of disagreement.
"Let us talk to our counterparts in the city. Now is the time for diplomacy and not hardball. We cannot engage in strikes forever..the city is the master of all its territories..so we can try to talk to them. If we fail, at least we tried," the Vice Governor said.
Meantime, all PUJs in the southern line-routes agreed to drop off passengers in Oton and not within the city limits. It would then be the Oton PUJs alone that will be expected to ply passengers to and from the city.
The development was disclosed by Vice Mayor Olivares who added in apparent disgust, "para indi na magbayad sang tong sa ciudad (so payment will no longer be made to the city)."