Osmeña to ban private cars from main streets

Mayor Tomas Osmeña will soon implement a plan banning private vehicles from the main streets of the city so jeepney drivers would have more income to lessen the impact of the continuing oil price hike on them.

As chairman of the City Traffic Office Management, Osmeña said he has the power to implement the ban on private vehicles, but only during rush hours in the morning and afternoon.

Osmeña's statement came after the operators have expressed their desire to ask him to negotiate for the stopping of the implementation of the one peso increase in the fare rate. The mayor said he would appeal to private vehicle owners to avoid reporting for work during rush hours to give way for PUJs to pick up more passengers.

Osmeña said he is even willing to let PUJ drivers decide which routes will be included in the ban. His decision came in the wake of the drivers' complaints that their daily income is only enough for their rentals of PUJ due to the continuing oil price hike.

Meanwhile, Nagkahiusang Driver sa Sugbo chairman Antonio Pogado said Osmeña's plan is good, but added that he was not sure if it will push through because it is not the main solution to the ongoing oil price hike.

Pogado said that he is even willing to come to City Hall if invited for a dialogue. But he admitted that "usahay man gud managana ta ug duol kay basin ma misinterpret ta, pero even only in the City Council if they will invite us, we'll come."- Norvie Misa