Taxi drivers air concerns to the city council

TAXI drivers in the city are bringing their concerns to the attention of the City Council against the operations of three city transport terminals and the ongoing extortion activities perpetuated by some persons claiming working for the barangays in three areas along the river port.

Letters of complaint dated July 18, 2012 were submitted by officers of the Iloilo United Taxi Drivers Association Inc. (IUTDA) and DUMPER Philippine Taxi Drivers Association Iloilo Chapter to Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, city councilors David Raymund Jamora, chair of the City Council committee on public service and R Leone Gerochi, chair of City Council committee on transportation detailing their complaints against the operators of Ungka Terminal fronting Christ the King memorial park and Tagbak Terminal, all in the district of Jaro; and the Mohon Terminal in Arevalo district.

The drivers zeroed in on the poor housekeeping and sanitation within the terminal’s compound which in effect, violate certain provisions of the perimeter boundary ordinance.

Despite the payment of P10 per taxi unit required by the terminal management, the basic amenities and improvements required under the Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO) are blatantly violated by the terminal management.

IUTDA President Raymund Ngirngir said the Ungka transport terminal has an uncovered drainage coming from the eatery beside the taxi lane, stagnant water at the parking area which emits very foul odor, dirty and foul smelling comfort rooms, and unpaved parking area which becomes a marshland during rainy days.

The Mohon terminal has poor maintenance of comfort rooms, unpaved parking area, barren and unshed taxi lane. Also the Tagbak terminal has inadequate comfort rooms.

The taxi drivers also complained of recurring and unaddressed traffic issues especially on the competence and professionalism of traffic enforcers and unclear definition of traffic ordinances and signages.

Also complained are the ongoing extortion activities by persons claiming to be working for the nearby barangays at the Muelle Loney area near the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) entrance gate, Barangay Ortiz taxi lane, and the Parola taxi lane.

The drivers also slammed the non-inclusion of representatives from the associations of taxi, tricycle, PPUJ, and other legitimate transport organizations in the city’s traffic review committee.