By Freddie Lazaro
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc is pushing for the revival of the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) to ensure a safer and more efficient transport system.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
An initiative of former Ilocos Norte governor and now Senator Imee R. Marcos, MINC was established to develop an integrated traffic management system and streamline the transport sector by coordinating with public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.
Among the benefits provided by the council is a membership and insurance card in one that entails holders to discounts at establishments, and accident insurance.
Cardholders are also entitled to discounts for gas or diesel purchases, a benefit that extends to official vehicles of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte and municipal and city governments.
MINC also established the Night Express to ensure safe and reliable night time transportation. Additional allowance was given to jeepney drivers as an incentive, with extra rides and routes offered during peak tourism seasons such as during Holy Week and Christmas vacation.
In addition to prioritizing members’ welfare, the program allowed the commuters to save on transportation expenses.
“We will bring back our MINC. We will update it,” Manotoc said.
The provincial through MINC Representative Perry Martinez, tapped the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to study and devise a plan to address the traffic situation in the business centers in San Nicolas and Laoag City.
“The MMDA agreed to send a team to Ilocos Norte to study our traffic situation. Hopefully, after we evaluate our traffic situation, we can implement our solutions,” said Martinez.