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Thursday, April 21, 2005
Citom rerouting ‘impractical’
By Aledel G. Cuizon
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Mandaue City Council is reiterating its stand against the rerouting of jeepneys, saying it is impractical and burdensome to the commuters.
The City Council passed a resolution last Tuesday to register its opposition to the new rerouting scheme prescribed by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom).
City Councilor and majority floor leader Carlo Pontico Fortuna said limiting the routes of Mandaue jeepneys is detrimental to passengers because it increases their transportation expenses.
The scheme is also unfavorable to drivers because it cuts their income, Fortuna added.
“There is no further justification needed to explain why this is impractical. It’s impractical for one to travel for several minutes and get off to ride another vehicle. There should be limited stops,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Service
“The transport industry is service. It should benefit the public,” he added.
Fortuna said that if the Cebu City Government continues to ban Mandaue jeepneys from its major roads, commuters will be discouraged from going to Cebu City because they find it a burden to do so.
Fortuna chaired the committee on transportation in his previous term.
He said the original routes are even favorable to Cebu City residents because many of them work in Mandaue.
Congestion
Fortuna also said the congestion of roads in Cebu City should not be blamed on Mandaue City jeepneys because the Mandaue-Osmeña Blvd. route has been there even before the other routes were opened.
Last April 1, Citom started banning Mandaue City jeepneys from downtown Cebu City.
It ordered that those plying the Mandaue-Osmeña Blvd. route should stop at the Ayala Center Cebu terminal.
Jeepneys going downtown were allowed only until the North Reclamation Area.
While some drivers opted to follow the Citom-prescribed routes, many Mandaue City jeepneys continue to ply their original routes.
Jeepney drivers said the rerouting scheme, among other reasons, prompted them to join last Monday’s transport strike.
They also complained that there are no more jeepney stops for 21B and 22B routes on Osmeña Blvd. (AAG)
(April 21, 2005 issue)
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