Council oks ban of prov’l PUJs to enter city streets

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Provincial public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are now banned from entering the streets of this city.

This was after eight of 13 councilors voted for the approval of the City’s Comprehensive Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO) that prohibits PUJs from other parts of the province to ply routes using city streets.

The eight councilors who voted for the ban were: Plaridel Nava, proponent of the ordinance, Rodel Agado, Love Baronda, Lyndon Acap, Armand Parcon, Joshua Alim, Liga ng mga Barangay president Carlos Guarin and SK city federation president Sheen Marie Mabilog.

The five who voted against the ordinance were: Jason Gonzales, Jay Treñas, Liezl Joy Zulueta, R. Leone Gerochi and Eduardo Peñaredondo.

Councilor Lex Tupas, who was against the ordinance, however did not cast his vote because he was presiding the session in lieu of Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III was on vacation leave.

Under the comprehensive PBO, only PUJs from the towns of Oton, Pavia, Leganes and San Miguel could enter the city without any car pass but they have designated slots where they could load and unload their passengers before going back to its original routes.

Peñaredondo, who was the proponent of the old PBO in 2002, disagreed the scrapping of car pass system, which he said could make the implementation of the ordinance more effective.

Nava, chair of the transportation committee, countered that a car-pass system is no longer needed because the PUJs are now regulated.

Nava said the comprehensive PBO will take effect 15 days from the last day of publication. He added the PBO will help decongest traffic problem in the city.  (FREEMAN)