Tomas sees more problems for city

CEBU, Philippines - South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña strictly implemented the Ordinance 1837, which bans inter-city jeepneys from plying the city’s major thoroughfares, during his incumbency as mayor of Cebu City.

Now that his successor is doing the same, Osmeña is already singing a different tune.

The former mayor is now saying that strict implementation of the ordinance will be “disadvantageous to the city in the long run.”

Osmeña believes that that preventing inter-city jeepneys from entering the city’s major thoroughfares could lead to a more serious problem to the city in the future.

“The one who are riding PUJ’s are old, if you make it longer for them, they will end up being squatters in Cebu City,” he said.

Osmeña said there is a possibility that local migrants to the city would increase as a result to the costly fares brought about by the strict implementation of the Ordinance1837.

“But being late in work and to spend more,” is already another issue to be tackled he added.

Osmeña’s latest stand on the issue, however, is believed to be imbued with political motives because of his perceived good relations with Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City.

Osmeña used to implement the ordinance, in fact, there are already a lot of Mandaue-bound PUJs have been impounded. The strict implementation of the ordinance happened during the term of Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano as mayor of Mandaue. Osmeña and Ouano are also not in good terms.

City Traffic Operations Management Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem was also softened on the issue.

“I can already see the negative impact of it,” Jakosalem said.

According to him, Osmeña is in the better position to see the problem because he was former mayor of the city.

Jakosalem assured that they are yet to implement the CO 1837.

Upon strictly implementation of the ordinance 1837, PUJs from the north which include 21B, 21D, 21A and other Mandaue City Jeepneys are only allowed to reach Ayala Center terminal or up to the North Consolidated Terminal in the North Reclamation Area.

On the other hand, PUJs from the south may only reach up to One Citilink Terminal or up to the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

The controversial ordinance was repeatedly amended by the City Council several times in the past; however its purpose remains to help decongest the worsening vehicular traffic in the city. - /FPL (FREEMAN)