Iloilo jeepney sector seeks gov’s help on law

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (CIPJODA), from 35 towns in Iloilo province had asked the help of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. against the “inappropriate implementation” of the comprehensive perimeter boundary ordinance (CPBO), which took effect on June 2.

The CPBO limits the entrance of provincial jeepneys into the city limits by issuing four passes to every town, except those from the so-called “first towns,” namely, Pavia, Leganes, San Miguel and Oton.

CIPJODA president Proceso Parreño said they were not against the enforcement of the CPBO but he suggested that the city government  should look first into its effects to the operators, drivers and commuters.

“The operators lost almost 50 percent of their daily income while commuters, especially the students, are sacrificing the delay in their travel time as well as add on to their double-ride expenses,”  Parreño said.

Parreño said his group members were hopeful that their sentiments will be heard, with the help of  the governor, for whom they submitted reports containing data on how many drivers and commuters were affected and how much income were lost, among others.

Defensor, for his part, told The Freeman he was set to talk with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog next week on the issue. “I want to talk with city officials so that we could come up with understanding and arrangement that is mutually acceptable with the province and city,” he said. (FREEMAN)