ILOILO – “It’s up to them.”
This was the response of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. when asked about his reaction after Mayor Jerry Treñas invited the head of the Public Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO) of the Iloilo provincial capitol to a seminar-workshop for the city’s traffic aides.
Defensor said he sees no problem if Nereo Lujan of PICAO gives a lecture to the personnel of the Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) to improve the traffic situation in the city.
He said he and Treñas leveled off on Lujan’s criticisms about the city’s traffic situation, particularly along the Ungka flyover.
The governor was referring to when he apologized to the mayor.
Treñas earlier instructed PSTMO head Jeck Conlu to invite critics of the city’s traffic management to give an eight-hour lecture with a demonstration. He particularly named Lujan.
“Para makabulig man sa traffic. I think ang tanan siguro naga-criticize man para sa kaayuhan. We criticize to be able to help improve the situation, indi man nga mag-put down sang tawo. And if they have more knowledge and ability, we are willing to listen to them and even pay them for their services,” said Treñas.
He added that he would increase Lujan’s one day honorarium to P5,000, which would come from his personal pocket.
Treñas also said that if the city’s traffic situation will indeed improve, he would be thankful to Lujan.
Meanwhile, Panay News reached out to Lujan but the PICAO head withheld any comment./PN