Gamboa: San Dionisio-Central Market route not yet final
BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Wilson Gamboa Jr., Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Traffic Management, clarified the San Dionisio - Central Market Route Extension is not yet implemented although they have already approved the resolution requested by San Dionisio-Bacolod Drivers and Operators Association or SABADOA last regular session.
Gamboa stressed that the Bacolod City Council put a "collatilla" or pre-requisite to be followed prior to the implementation of such extended route and this pertains to the specific route or traffic scheme to be finalized by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council (BTAC) and the Traffic Management Unit led by Senior Inspector Luisito Acebuche.
Earlier, San Dionisio residents and the SABADOA questioned the action taken by the BTAC/TMU when they apprehended San Dionisio drivers via Central Market for out-of-route violations because this was not covered on the franchise issued by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Stipulated on the said franchise issued by the latter, the route specified is only San Dionisio - Burgos Public Market. Gamboa then called for a public hearing attended by various stakeholders from the Transport Group. Gamboa agreed to implement a 45-days traffic experiment subject to the approval of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
On the other hand, the group of Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association (FEBACDA) opposed said route extension of SABADOA. FEBACDA President Elizabeth Katalbas said that there was no legislative permission or pertinent ordinance or policy passed on this extended route.
"The extension of route was passed with undue haste just to favor the requesting party without considering the gross impact to other parties or stakeholders," Katalbas said. She further stressed that the LTFRB, a national agency of the government, which has the ultimate justification on transport regulation was not able to take cognizance on such regards.
Katalbas said that it is incumbent upon the committee of the whole to invite Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Director Porferio Clavel to a committee hearing to resolve the issue.