Monday, August 25, 2008 USC asks Citom to reconsider change in 13-C jeepneys’ route
CITING the risk the change has posed to its students, a local university has asked the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) office to reconsider its decision to alter the 13C public utility jeepney (PUJ) route.
In a letter addressed to City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, University of San Carlos student affairs director Joseph Subong said their students are forced to walk from the main campus along P. del Rosario St. because of the rerouting.
13C PUJs are barred from passing through P. del Rosario St. on their way back to the Banilad-Talamban area to reduce the number of vehicles using the street.
Instead of proceeding to Panganiban St. from Barangay Parian while traversing Colon, they are asked to turn right upon reaching the Jakosalem St. junction, cutting short their route.
Subong said this is dangerous because classes end at 9:30 p.m. and students now have to walk towards Colon St., which is two blocks away.
Hazards
“This exposes our students to the weather and to the hazards of the area, especially at night…. We were not made aware of the circumstances that have prompted the cutting of the route of the 13C. This has given our students a difficult time adjusting,” he said.
“Not only did the students adjust to the double ride, some, not opting for additional fare, had to adjust to the risks involved in walking along the Sanciangko and Colon Sts. at night,” he added.
The change has also met opposition from the drivers, who complained that aside from the loss of income, they end up crowding the Colon-Jakosalem junction.
This, they said, still result to congestion, which Citom tries to avoid by implementing the route change.
The City Council last week referred Subong’s letter to the committee on energy, transportation, communication, and other utilities for its comments and recommendations. (RHM)
