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Tuesday, May 16, 2006
River taxi opens routes to residents
By Danilo V. Adorador III
WHEN one door closes, another one opens somewhere else.
Finding common purpose in this old saying, slum dwellers living near the Cagayan de Oro riverbank are taking advantage of the Ysalina bridge's closure by offering boat rides to stranded commuters.
For a P5 fare, residents crossing each side of the river can now spare themselves the effort of crossing the distant Marcos bridge -- one of the city's two functioning bridges that is now clogged being the only passage for pedestrians and vehicles passing the south and western areas.
Each wooden boat, stirred only through paddles, can carry up to three passengers, and ride takes only 2 minutes.
John Delion said he earned about P150 for three hours of paddling.
"This clearly shows how innovative Filipinos are," American tourist Kirk James said while riding the wooden boat with his Filipina girlfriend. "This is one great plus for tourism here, and I hope they'll still ferry passengers even if the bridge is already fixed."
The City Council, however, is wary. Though this mode of transport is temporary, Councilor Ian Acenas said government agencies should supervise the boat services until the bridge opens to pedestrian this Thursday.
The bridge was closed Monday due to retrofitting works.
Complaining on the alleged slow pace of works, the councilors during the regular session Monday, agreed to summon to the City Council next week the private construction firm doing the repair works.
The June 23 time-frame for the repair works to conclude should be assured from the constructors, said Majority Floor Leader Edgar Cabanlas, noting that any delay would take a toll on the city's economy.
Delayed office works and transport movements, he said, are some of the losses "brought about by this unbearable traffic jam."
Cabanlas also believes that the expected completion of the bridge repair would be delayed by at least a month or more, noting the minimal workforce doing the retrofitting works.
(May 16, 2006 issue)
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