Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog seems averse to hearing about the problems affecting the public transport industry to a point that he has stopped inviting those leaders who are persistent in seeking concrete action on their complaints.

Edgar Salarda, president of the Pinagkaisahang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston)-Panay, said he has noticed that he is no longer being invited to conferences that Mabilog regularly convenes with public transport leaders.

"Mayor Mabilog must have grown tired because each time I attend a meeting, I always articulate issues like traffic enforcement and loading/unloading areas for jeepneys belonging to the Metro Iloilo loop," Salarda said.

Salarda said Mabilog has done nothing to resolve the issues "despite our relentless efforts to bring them to his attention." He keeps making promises but remains "zero" on the delivery of the same, he added.

Salarda was among the guests on Wednesday, April 25, during the Kapehan sa Bali cable television and radio public affairs program, hosted by The News Today contributing writer and columnist Manuel "Boy" Mejorada.

In the interview, Salarda also distanced his group from the "arrogant" stance taken by Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) president Nick Dalisay on the controversy over the enforcement operations of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Dalisay had issued a demand to LTO enforcement team chief Marlon Velez not to undertake enforcement operations within the city's jurisdiction "without first getting clearance from me".

Salarda said this statement smacked of arrogance because the LTO needs no clearance from anybody to carry out its enforcement duties.*