BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here has endorsed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) a new transport route connecting the Bacolod Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH) to the Bacolod-Silay Airport, as proposed by the Asenso Bacolod Transport Cooperative (ABTC).
During its regular session on Thursday, October 2, the SP granted the request of ABTC chairperson Eduardo Asis for a favorable endorsement of the airport route.
Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairperson of the SP Committee on Transportation, said ABTC originally proposed four new routes for approval: Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to South Capitol loop; Cabug to Libertad loop; Arao/Abada Iskay to Gatuslao Street loop; and Sum-ag/BANOCEH to Bacolod-Silay Airport loop
Of the four, only the BANOCEH-to-airport route received immediate endorsement. Ramos explained that the other three require public hearings as they may affect the livelihood of existing drivers.
“Four routes were requested, but we approved only one because it has no controversy and does not affect any existing routes,” Ramos said.
According to Ramos, tricycle drivers may lose income if the Abada Iskay route is approved, while public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers currently serving the BCGC area may be affected if the BCGC-South Capitol route pushes through. Hence, the council will first hear the sentiments of affected drivers, commuters, and ABTC as the proponent.
The BANOCEH-to-airport route, however, was endorsed without opposition as it would benefit passengers from Bacolod and the southern parts of Negros Occidental by providing more accessible and convenient travel to the airport. It will also serve incoming passengers from the airport heading south.
The endorsement resolution will be attached by ABTC to its petition for LTFRB approval. Once granted, Ramos said he would help the cooperative coordinate with Silay City officials to establish a terminal at the airport.
Ramos also noted that the pending routes had previously undergone dry runs under the proposed “green routes” program./PN
