BACOLOD City – Members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) plying Barangay Vista Alegre in this city staged a protest over the five-day dry run for the green route that began yesterday.
Several TODA members barricaded the road where the minibuses would pass by. They said they fear of losing income once the minibuses started plying Barangay Vista Alegre route.
TODA president Carlito Ronamo said they will continue with the barricade if the dry run continues to push through.
“Ginatindugan lang namon ang amon kinamatarong sa amon asosasyon. Wala man kami nagalabag sa batas. Nagahangyo man kami nga hatagan kami sang matrix para may basehan kami sang pletehan nga amo ang amon pagasundon,” he added.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has earlier said that eight minibuses will be plying the proposed green routes from Barangay Vista Alegre and Cabug to the downtown area, and vice versa.
The Vista Alegre dry run would serve as a free ride (libre sakay) for passengers. It is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the relocation site to Burgos Public Market and vice versa.
The result of the dry run will be included in the proposed enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of the city.
Under the city’s LPTRP, 24 routes were identified and 1,099 minibuses or consolidated jeepneys are needed to operate.
Once the green routes will be approved, the city will have a total of 26 routes, Benitez said./PN