City ordinance for point-to-point routes proposed

ILOILO City – Councilor Romel Duron proposed an ordinance “establishing route for point-to-point (P2P) buses and vans in the transport hub at the Iloilo Business Park from point of origin to point of destination.”

The measure hurdled first reading and was referred to the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) Committee on Transportation, Energy and Public Utilities chaired by Duron himself for further study and recommendations.

“Every route should have a corresponding ordinance…specified gid kon diin maagi,” Duron explained.

Western Visayas’ first premium P2P bus services started plying Iloilo roads in July.

“Subong gani dapat dakpon sila kay wala pa route ordinance…actually indi man illegal ah…kon sundon mo galing, tani indi pa sila kasulod dira kay rota nila is Iloilo City lang to (Iloilo) Airport. Te, which part of Iloilo City sila?” added Duron.

Previously, the SP resolved that Regulation Ordinance No. 2019-110 granting Megaworld Corp. the authority to establish and operate a transport hub at the Iloilo Business Park was valid, final and executory.

The committee conducted a public hearing following the complaint filed by two city-based transport associations against the grant of provisional authority to Southwest Transport whose P2P buses serve passengers from the Iloilo Airport to the Megaworld transport hub and vice versa.

“The operation of the Megaworld Transport Hub is clothed with legal color by virtue of Regulation Ordinance No. 2019-110. In Section 2 of the same ordinance, the transport hub shall be used exclusively for and limited only to UV Express, tourist and chartered vans and buses, and shuttle buses,” read part of the committee report prepared by transport committee chair Duron.

Such ordinance, it added, has binding effect, general application and presumed valid unless there is a contrary pronouncement from the proper authorities as to its invalidity or it is repealed or amended.

It is the interpretation of the committee that the term “buses” must necessarily include P2P buses.

To contend that the term “buses” do not include P2P buses is not only ridiculous but would even unduly limit the clear language or term used in the same ordinance,” said Duron.

In a petition, the New Iloilo Airport Transport Association (NIATA) and Association of Taxi Operators of Panay (ATOP) asked the SP to stop the operation of P2P buses of Southwest Transport as these supposedly violate the Iloilo City Perimeter Boundary Ordinance./PN

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