ILOILO CITY – A dialogue ended the transport strike of a coalition of passenger jeepneys in this city on Monday, June 3.
PASSENGERS wait in a long line at the Mohon Terminal in Iloilo City during the transportation strike by a coalition of jeepney operators and drivers. (Photo courtesy of AJ Palcullo)
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo stepped in during a transportation meeting on the same day a coalition of first-town jeepney drivers and operators held the first of a two-day transport strike against the problems posed by the Iloilo City government’s implementation of the modern transportation system.
Drivers and operators of jeepneys plying Leganes, Pavia, and Oton asked the Iloilo City government to reconsider the implementation of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) which phases out old traditional jeepneys in favor of mini-buses.
Representatives of the Iloilo City government initially wanted to allow 25 percent first-town jeepneys to enter, not the 40 percent eing asked by the other stakeholders.
The Iloilo City government reached an agreement when it learned there are not enough passenger vehicles – traditional jeepneys and mini-buses – that would cater to the riding public.
This temporary solution would only apply during peak hours. First-town jeepneys are only allowed to ply their regular routes within Iloilo City from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Elmer Forro, regional lead of a group against total phase out of traditional jeepneys, said this is a welcome development.
But Forro cautioned that this is only temporary and said there is a need for the provincial and city governments to come up with better solutions, especially that the Iloilo provincial government is awaiting the passage and approval of its own LPTRP.
Forro said that if the LPTRP of the Iloilo provincial government is implemented, it would further reduce the number of traditional jeepneys and that there may not be enough mini-buses to cater to the riding public.