ILOILO City – The city government will extend the suspension of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
The 45-day suspension, which will end on Aug. 22, took effect on July 8 to give way to a series of public consultations geared at making the LPTRP more attuned to ground traffic realities.
The extension will be for another 45 days, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
It will give the city government enough time to finalize the proposed amendments to the LPTRP gathered from the public consultations, he said.
The revisions would be submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for approval and will be returned to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for confirmation.
Treñas said the LPTRP, with modifications, will eventually be implemented again.
“We will proceed with it. I think we have done so many consultations already,” he said.
Yesterday, the city held its last consultation at the Iloilo provincial capitol.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 30, a Transport Summit relative to the LPTRP will be held at the University of the Philippines Visayas, according to Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Transportation.
Cabaluna said the city government will present the proposed amendments to the LPTRP.
The summit will remain open for more inputs, he added.
The LPTRP banned provincial jeepneys from entering the city. Many drivers of Pavia, Leganes and Oton town jeepneys were economically displaced.
Also due to the ban, Iloilo City-bound passengers from Iloilo province and those from Aklan, Capiz and Antique were forced to take two or three rides, making them spend more on fare.
In ordering the 45-day suspension, Treñas also cited the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which requires the observance of health and safety protocols, the increasing prices of commodities, the inflation experienced by both national and local economies, the public clamor, and the impending increase in the volume of commuters due to the upcoming opening of classes./PN
