BACOLOD City – Lieutenant Colonel Luisito Acebuche, head of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), reminded drivers of southbound public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to observe the 45-day traffic experiment starting today.
Acebuche said the city council already approved the implementation of the 45 to 60 days experimental rerouting of PUJs plying Sum-ag, Pta. Taytay, Tangub, Singcang-Airport, and Magsungay.
He added the routes will be extended from Rizal Street to Gatuslao Street in South Capitol Road going to the Vendors Plaza.
Under the traffic experiment scheme, Acebuche clarified that the southbound PUJs will take Gatuslao Street, take a left turn to the San Juan Street, and turn right to Burgos Street going to the terminal at the Burgos-Ferrero streets.
“The purpose of this rerouting is intended for displaced sidewalk vendors in the Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza, who are complaining of no income in the area after they were removed in the downtown area due to obstructions,” he explained.
Acebuche said they have deployed three BTAO personnel in the area along the Rizal Street (fronting the cathedral up to the corner of Rizal –Ferero Streets) to apprehend those who violate the rerouting scheme.
He added that BTAO will also impose the loading and unloading areas along SM Mall so that the passengers will go to the terminal.
PUJs plying the routes of Shopping, Mandalagan, Bata and Banago going to Libertad, meanwhile, were allowed to pass in the said area. About 600 southbound PUJs will be affected of the traffic experiment.
To fully implement the traffic experiment, BTAO created “Task Force Land Transportation Public Route Terminal” – composed of 20 personnel – to man the said terminal./PN
