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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Councilors vote 9-4 in favor of terminal deal
By Jennifer M. Depakakibo
NINE Councilors approved Wednesday the resolution authorizing Mayor Jerry Treñas to enter into a compromise agreement with the Iloilo Terminal and General Services Inc. (ITGSI) amid reports money changed hands to obtain a favorable decision from the City Council.
The compromise agreement will pave the way for the ITGSI, represented by its general manager Narciso Pueblo, to drop the civil case it filed against the city officials for the non-implementation of the Perimeter Boundary Ordinance (PBO).
The PBO enabled ITGSI to set up a terminal for central-bound vehicles in Ungka, Jaro, one of Iloilo City's perimeter boundaries.
The company prayed for mandamus and damages before the Regional Trial Court Branch 26, claiming losses for its unused terminal.
Treñas welcomed the authority from the City Council. He told Sun.Star Iloilo in a telephone interview he will now wait for the resolution to be forwarded to his office.
After he signs it, the resolution will be returned to the City Council for confirmation and then will be submitted to the court.
Those who voted to authorize the mayor were Councilors Jed Patrick Mabilog, Jose Espinosa III, Armand Parcon, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Julienne Baronda, Merci Drilon-Garcia, Jeffrey Ganzon, Marietta Orleans, and Stevie Rey Abitang.
Espinosa, the mayor's brother-in-law, chairs the committee on transportation while Parcon, the former chair, authored the controversial ordinance.
They said they trust the mayor to protect the interest of the city. Garcia and Baronda claimed it was a "painful decision" for them to make an affirmative vote though it was not clear why.
All of those who voted favorably are identified with the administration.
The four who opposed were Councilors Perla Zulueta, Erwin Plagata, Ely Estante, and Erlinda Liberiaga. Councilor Ramon Cua Locsin was absent.
From the start, Zulueta and Plagata have been vocal on their opposition.
Zulueta said City Legal Officer Edgar Gil misled the City Council in asking for an authority for the mayor to sign the compromise agreement.
She said there is no need for an authorization as the mayor can implement the traffic ordinance even without it. She added Gil said ITGSI is seeking P5 million in damages when the terminal operator only sought P300,000, based on her inquiry from the court.
But Gil said the P5 million includes other expenses claimed by ITGSI. Zulueta said she based her decision on the "official documents she gathered and the intelligent investigation" she conducted.
Estante and Liberiaga echoed Zulueta's sentiment that the City Council was misled.
Plagata, for his part, questioned if it's logical to allow Treñas to enter into a compromise agreement with ITGSI.
He reiterated that since ITGSI is the only terminal operator issued a franchise, the enforcement of the ordinance would only be partial. Such is contrary to the law, Plagata said.
Another terminal is located in Tagbac, Jaro for north-bound vehicles. Others will be established at the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex for the south-bound jeepneys and buses and in Mandurriao area for the Aleosan vehicles.
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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