Heads up motorists and travelers!
The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will implement a traffic scheme at the Parola Wharf in the City Proper district on Good Friday as thousands of travelers are expected to cross Guimaras Island to observe Holy Week.
According to PSTMO head Jeck Conlu, the foot and vehicle traffic scheme will only be effective on Friday to manage passengers and vehicles at the Parola Wharf.
Under the traffic scheme, there will be no road closure but public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will only be allowed entry before the main entrance of Camp Delgado.
“Wala kita road closures but only foot and vehicle traffic scheme. All PUJs coming from Gen. Hughes and Fort San Pedro will be until the designated U-turn slot only before the main entrance of Camp Delgado. Kon maglaba ang pila kag madamo ang tawo, we will extend sa Veteran’s Village nga dira na lang ang aton mga jeepneys,” he said in a radio interview on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, private vehicles and taxis will be allowed to pass Fort San Pedro Drive going to Muelle Loney provided that they will only drop and pick up passengers at designated areas.
Conlu added that there will be a dedicated four lanes at the Parola Wharf for passengers bound for Guimaras.
Passengers bound to Jordan, Guimaras will use the designated line from Parola Wharf to Fort San Pedro while passengers bound to Buenavista, Guimaras will use the Iloilo Ferry Terminal-Parola beside City Hall.
Conlu said they hope that the traffic scheme will be effective as this will be the first time that travelers from Iloilo City bound for Jordan who will witness the “ Ang Pagtaltal sa Bala-an Bukid” will depart from the Parola Wharf.
“Sang 2019 didto pa kita sa Ortiz Wharf but subong diri na kita sa Parola. This will be the first time nga diri ang tanan ta na entry points sa Jordan sa Parola Wharf and passengers will dock at the Jordan Wharf. Indi na kita mag-allow nga didto sila sa Balaan Bukid mismo manaog kay mabudlay but didto na lang kita tanan sa Jordan Wharf,” he explained.
Conlu added that he is expecting the turn-around time from Iloilo City to Guimaras will now be faster with the modernized boats.
Around 18,000 passengers are expected to travel from Iloilo City to Guimaras to witness the famous “Ang Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid” at Jordan, Guimaras this Good Friday. (DG)
