Officials asked to lift ban on entry of Talisay PUJs

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

SEVERAL groups and village officials reiterated their appeal to Bacolod City officials to exempt public utility jeepneys (PUJ) plying the Talisay-Bacolod route from the implementation of a city ordinance that bans the entry of all northbound public utility vehicles into the city.

The Consumer Alliance of Negros (Cane), various multi-sectoral groups based in Talisay and leaders of Talisay City Liga ng mga Barangay appealed to city officials to exempt Talisay PUJs from the implementation of City Ordinance No. 480.

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Under the ordinance, which was implemented August last year, PUJs had to unload and load passengers only at the northbound terminal. Drivers have to pay a fee to the terminal operator, as well as dispatcher's fee, while passengers have to transfer to a Bacolod bound jeepney plying the Shopping-Libertad route.

The group asked the Bacolod City Council to allow affected PUJs to ply their former routes which grant them entry up to Bacolod's Shopping area, citing the serious loss of income of the drivers and the alleged lack of security of students and other commuters at the north-bound terminal.

Village Chief Ma. Elena Lazarte of Barangay Zone 12-A, Talisay City, lead convenor of Cane and designated spokesperson of the group, said they re-submitted their petition and position paper to the Bacolod City Council seeking the said exemption.

Lazarte said last November 3, 2011, their group attended the City Council's session and presented their complaints about the effects of the non-entry of PUJs from Talisay City to commuters not only from the said city but also to residents of Bacolod traveling to Talisay.

She stressed that, because of the banning of entry by Talisay-Bacolod PUJs into the city, jeepney drivers lost more than half of their daily income.

Lazarte narrated that students from San Agustin College, University of Saint La Salle, West Negros University and other private colleges, where Talisay-Bacolod PUJs pass, are very much affected because their transportation expenses had almost doubled, as they had to transfer to another PUJ from the terminal to their destination.

She also explained that small businesses operators, lowly workers, senior citizens and ordinary housewives who travel daily from Talisay to Shopping Center in Bacolod had to shell-out an additional P14 daily.

Youth Council Chairman Person Raymart Lamig representing the youth sector pointed out that the Talisay Youth Council Federation continues to receive complaints from students studying in Bacolod that they fear for their safety, especially at night, because the north terminal does not have regular security personnel or police assigned to the area.

Lamig said the situation at the north terminal is even worse during bad weather.

PUJ driver Gilbert Varona, meanwhile, revealed that the establishment of the north terminal had reduced their income by more than 70 percent.

He said that after the banning of their entry into their previous route, he can only bring P150 to his family after more than 10 hours of driving his rented PUJ.

Varona added that two of his children had already stopped schooling in the second semester last year because the income that he earns daily is not even enough to sustain his family's needs.

In their petition, Cane said more than 4,000 students from the elementary to the college level who are studying in the different schools in Bacolod are badly affected by the said ordinance.

This costs them an additional transport fare of P12 daily which is equivalent to P264/month for every student and also causes delays in their travel.

Aside from the 4,000 students, also affected are about 2,500 professionals employed in different institutions and establishments in the city of Bacolod, the group pointed out.

Lazarte said there are enough valid grounds to exempt Talisay-Bacolod PUJs from the subject ordinance because of the proximity of both cities and the distance between them is merely 7.5 kilometers.

Lazarte warned that continued failure of the Bacolod City Government to their appeal will force them to seek other legal remedies and possible protest actions. (With reports from Karl G. Ombion)