Three southbound public utility vehicles under the United Drivers Operators Center that entered the DAALCO waiting station in Libertad, Bacolod City were apprehended yesterday by the Traffic Management Unit for illegal establishment of a terminal.

The incident happened after a dialog was held at the government center between the city officials and the sectors affected by the transfer of the terminal to Sambok south terminal at Lopez Jaena-San Sebastian streets.

UNDOC secretary general Jessie Ortega said it was clear during the dialog with the city officials in the presence of Social Action Center director Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, that they were granted by the city the second option they have chosen.

He said the second option allows them to enter the DAALCO waiting station in Libertad per route and be able to pick up passengers for 10 minutes. 

He said they are questioning City Legal Office Composite Enforcement team head Cesar Beloria Jr. for what happened and are not blaming Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilor Dindo Ramos who met with them.

Beloria said it was a case of simple misinterpretation that they can resolve. He said he will prepare a report on the matter which he will submit it to the vice mayor.

The second option can be used only if the first option, which requires PUV’s to park along Mabini Street, is not effective, he said. The good thing is that the result of the meeting was positive and everyone wanted to cooperate, he added.

UNDOC deputy secretary general Nilo Frias, in an interview after the dialog, said they wanted to conduct a dry run yesterday to see if the second option they have chosen is workable and could be a permanent solution to the problem at the waiting station in Libertad.  

He said they will continue to use the Sambok south terminal in compliance with C.O. 187 and, at the same time, comply with C.O. 1790 that establishes a waiting station.

Meanwhile, Sayson said they formed a team yesterday to study the three options that were presented during a dialog attended by the multi-sectoral group with UNDOC.

Sayson said it was not agreed during the dialog that southbound public utility vehicles can enter the DAALCO waiting station in Libertad since a study has yet to be made.

That is why they ordered the police to make them vacate the waiting station, he said.

It is clear in City Ordinance 1709 that the waiting station will be along the streets of Libertad and the law did not provide for a private waiting station, Sayson said.

They want to avoid the use of a private terminal that would entail expenses on the part of the drivers so they are offering a set up where the drivers will not spend anything, he said.

“Everything is on stand-by until we make the study,” he added.

Sayson said the team was supposed to go to the DAALCO terminal yesterday afternoon but before they got there, the drivers violated what they have agreed on during the dialog, which is to make a study on the second option presented by the group, he said.

The city is only implementing what is stipulated in C.O. 187 which entails the establishment of a terminal at Lopez Jaena Street, Sayson said.

The implementation of C.O. 187 is highly advantageous to the drivers because they have no fees to pay and they will be able to maintain the same route, he also said.*CGS

back to top