Wednesday, November 18, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Visha Calventas
THE City Mayor's plan to "pedestrianize" Session Road may not be effected if the business sector protests.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. earlier issued an administrative order, which will close one lane of the road to motorists and the other lane will just be an exit point.
Public Transport and Affairs office head Jonie Itliong said even if the mayor has a good intention on his plan, it may not be made possible as the business sector is the number one opposition for such.
Itliong challenged the mayor and city officials to stand by their plan.
"Panindigan nila yan, kasi natatakot naman sila sa mga businessman," Itliong said.
Itliong even suggested parking should not be allowed in the road.
Greening the transport sector
On the other hand, Itliong said they planned to enlist the city's one-way traffic scheme to the recently concluded contest on Greening the Transport Sector.
However, Itliong said they decided against it as the scheme was not implemented properly.
"May mga kulang kasi, hindi nailagay yung ibang signage at ibang turning points," Itliong said.
Four areas won in the contest: Marikina for its bicycle lane; San Fernando for the conversion of motorcycles to four stroke engines; Cebu for its mass transit system; and Cagayan de Oro for using liquefied petroleum gas in vehicles.
Itliong said some taxis in the city have converted to LPG but these have a hard time in maneuvering due to the city's hilly terrain.
Itliong said they plan to modernize jeepneys in the city.
He said jeepneys that will not pass the road-worthiness test will be allowed to convert or purchase a jeepney which has a door in the middle.
"Parang bus na yung jeepney, sa gitna yung sakayan," Itliong said.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 19, 2009.
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