Gorriceta assures completion of Pavia's 'bagsakan' terminal
Gorriceta
The completion of the Lopez-owned bagsakan terminal in Brgy. Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo may have encountered some hitches during the past several months, reason for some to express worry over whether the said project would still be realized. No need to worry though, assured Pavia mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, as he said the Lopezes are still committed in finishing the project the soonest possible time.
'The last time I talked with (former Guimaras governor and congresswoman) Emily Lopez was last month. During that meeting, I informed her that the people have been for quite a time already expecting the completion of the project, especially since they earlier said it would be finished within 45 days. That was when she assured me of their family's commitment to finish the project; that they'll be true to their word to establish a bagsakan terminal in the area fronting the University of Iloilo campus in Ungka, which they will call the Pavia People's Food Terminal,' said Gorriceta during his guest appearance in the popular public affairs program Serbisyo Publiko over the weekend.
The first-termer local chief executive said that in the same meeting, he was told by project manager Arch. Raymond Porras that their focus now is in completing the passenger terminal, which he said is already about 90% complete.
'Unahon nila kuno anay ang [They said they'll finish first the] passenger terminal. They're adopting a very conservative approach as regards the project. They said everything would be done in stages. After the sheds for the passenger vehicles are completed, they would then start construction of a parallel structure that would house stalls for products coming from the towns of Alimodian, Leon, among others,' he further said.
Gorriceta also downplayed problems reportedly being experienced by operators of passenger vehicles parking at the Pavia terminal regarding the alleged bias in the issuance of passes for entry to the city, saying such problems could be easily resolved once the bagsakan becomes operational.
'Admittedly, we cannot do something about these problems kay patakaran na sang ciudad [because these are city regulations]. I told Tito (Lopez) that all these problems would be resolved with the operationalization of their bagsakan terminal since jeepneys wouldn't need to enter the city anymore to get the cargoes of their passengers. Komprador na ang masulod dira [It would be the shoppers who would enter the bagsakan],' Gorriceta said, adding he would discuss these concerns with Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas during their regular meeting in the Metro Iloilo Development Council (MIDC).