Dumaguete Council tackles passenger terminal dry run

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Members of the City Council were divided on the issue on whether to stop the dry run of the now controversial passenger terminal at the Robinsons’ Place shopping mall.

During the council’s regular session Wednesday afternoon, lengthy deliberations took center stage as opposing legislators took turns in tackling the issue that has been plaguing the city, its officials, the business sector and the transport group for about three weeks now.

Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova slammed insinuations that the resolution passed by the council asking Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria to stop the dry run was “politicized.”

Cordova noted that during voting, there were more pro-administration councilors who voted for it than opposition councilors. Four pro-administration and three opposition councilors had approved the resolution asking the mayor to stop the dry run of passenger jeepneys and multi-cabs at the passenger terminal.

The passenger terminal, launched last July with the aid of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been intended to decongest city traffic.

At the start of its dry run over a fortnight ago, arguments surfaced among transport groups and other stakeholders involved.

Councilor Nilo Sayson lamented that the issue, which he described as being politicized, was again resurrected when it was the jeepney and multi-cab operators that had presented their preferred route.

Councilor Joe Kenneth Arbas however insisted that even the Traffic Management Council, during its recent meeting, recognizes that role of the City Council regarding the dry run. (FREEMAN)