ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has extended the temporary suspension of Regulation Ordinance No. 2022-027 or the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) to Dec. 31, 2022 unless the proposed amendments to the traffic plan are approved by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This is the third extension of LPTRP’s suspension.
In an executive order dated Nov. 3, 2022, Treñas stressed anew the necessity of further extending the suspension, citing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which requires the observance of health and safety protocols, the inflation experienced by both national and local economies, public clamor, the increase in commuter volume due to the opening of schools, and the ongoing public consultations regarding LTPRP’s amendments.
Pending LTFRB’s approval, Treñas asked national government officials to keep quiet in the meantime.
“As an LCE (local chief executive), we need to adjust according to the unique situation that we have. A law is made to serve our people and not otherwise,” said Treñas.
“Unlike local government officials who are elected and therefore have the mandate of the people, appointed officials are precisely appointed to serve our people. If they cannot serve the people, then they should be reassigned, given a different task, or worse terminated for cause,” the city mayor said in a statement.
Treñas specifically got irked after LTFRB-6 spokesperson, Atty. Jun Altura, in one media interview, said the city’s proposed modifications to the LPTRP may not be approved citing some issues that remain unresolved.
“Kon ma-away s’ya, ma-away man ‘ko. Kon maistorya s’ya, maistorya man ko. Kon hagad s’ya wakal, mawakal man ko kay ti, indi man ta gusto nga gina mani-mani lang ta sang mga hijo dep*ta nga ‘ni,” Treñas said.
The city mayor, in an interview over DYRI RMN Iloilo, pointed out that national government agencies are supposed to coordinate with local government units since it is the latter that has the mandate and are voted by the people.
“Ginhawa ta na ni gani ka kay-o sang hijo dep*ta nga LPTRP na…” Treñas said.
“Kon amo na man lang ni (nga indi maaprobhan) kundi waay na man lang. Kon gusto nila waay na lang LPTRP. Ila man ni ginaduso sang mga tawo, ginapatulon nila sa tawo bisan gabalabag. Ti, ano klase gobyerno ni man,” he added./PN
