Soc to stay away from tricycle drivers' issue

CEBU, Philippines -    Will Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez bend over to the wishes of tricycle drivers who have been pushing for the reopening of the old terminal in barangay Tabunok?

He will not, he said.

“The mayor would not interfere with the functions of the traffic division. Being the mayor, I won’t meddle with the affairs with the CT-TODA. If I would do so, I would be disrespecting the authority and functions of the traffic division,” said Fernandez in an interview with The FREEMAN, in reference to the City of Talisay-Traffic Operations and Development Authority.

Fernandez’s statement came after Councilor Danny Caballero assured tricycle drivers that if in case the council again denies Councilor Val Ylanan’s proposed resolution which seeks the temporary re-opening the old Tabunok terminal, then they could seek an audience with the mayor and request for its re-opening.

Caballero and Ylanan belong to the minority group in the council.

But Fernandez, who has been known to approve almost all kinds of request, told The FREEMAN he would deny the request considering that it’s the CT-TODA’s concern and not his.

Last Tuesday during the council’s regular session, the council deferred the approval of Ylanan’s proposal despite the minority councilor’s contention that it is only for a short period, citing that the area near the flyover is crammed with tricyles and that the CT-TODA has yet to find another location for the city’s more than 3,000 tricycles.

Ylanan is expected to file again his proposal next week in the hope that its passage would be some sort of a Christmas gift for tricycle drivers.

It was on this plan that Caballero told drivers, shortly after the session, that they would elevate the matter to the mayor if in case it still does not get the nod of the majority next week, noting that the mayor can issue an executive order re-opening the old terminal.

Caballero might have foreseen what would happen on Tuesdayas Councilor Dennis Basillote, who was last Tuesday’s presiding officer, had said that the majority would maintain its stance: stick by what is stated in the approved ordinance.

The council in May this year has approved a local ordinance transferring the reference point of all tricycles from Tabunok to Lagtang, the purpose of which is to bring in the customers to the new market. (FREEMAN)