Iloilo City comprehensive transport plan in the works

THE ILOILO City government is now working on a comprehensive transportation plan and is targeting to complete it within the year. Councilor R. Leone Gerochi, chair of the committee on transportation, said they are coordinating with the City Planning and Developing Office (CPDO) and the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) in drafting the plan and for implementation. “We are now in the middle of drafting our transport plan and the CPDO is reviewing the flow of traffic to make it more efficient. And there are also changes in the transport system that the city government has to adopt,” Mr. Gerochi said. Among the provisions being considered are setting up additional or adjusting old public utility jeepney routes. The councilor said they are open to suggestions from the public and hearings will also be scheduled when the draft is completed. He added that the comprehensive plan might not prove to be perfect, but it would be a good start to addressing the traffic problem in the city. “Let us put a system where people will be encouraged or even be compelled to use public transport rather than bring their car,” he said. —