08 October 2007
LEGAZPI CITY—CITY OFFI-cials have suspended a rerouting plan that prevented public utility jeeps from several towns of Albay from entering the central commercial hub here following protests from business and transport groups.
The groups charged the city government of misspending taxpayers’ money when it allowed the building of an access road worth almost P1 million that, they said, tended to favor a giant mall.
Rerouting
Construction of the road and the “unnecessary” rerouting of jeepneys were killing small businesses and undermining their right to fair competition, they said.
In a dialogue with the groups on Tuesday, Mayor Noel Rosal said the access road was meant to ease heavy traffic in the downtown area and not to favor Metro Gaisano and Pacific Mall.
In an executive order on Sept. 17, Rosal banned jeepneys plying the northeastern and northwestern towns from the port district and instead made them use the 300-meter access road from the city terminal to the mall.
Access road
The terminal serves as endpoint of all jeepneys coming from Tabaco City, Sto. Domingo, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Oas and Polangui.
Eugene Sangil, who represents the business sector, said at least 188 business owners protested the mayor’s order which, they said, could lead to the closure and bankruptcy of establishments in the port district.
Affected routes
Jeepney drivers staged a strike and rally in front of City Hall on Oct. 2. At least 810 jeepneys were plying the affected routes, said Gerald Silvestre, secretary general of the Condor-Piston in Bicol.
The drivers complained that they lost half of their average daily income of P650 to pay for boundary fees, Silvestre said.
Student groups also joined the protest, saying the riding public, especially the students, were made to take additional rides because of the rerouting scheme. Michael Malano, a student regent of Bicol University, said about 3,000 students from the northern towns were affected. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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