ILOILO City – This southern city is a few steps closer to implementing its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
Yesterday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) led by Transportation Development Officer Joshua S. Gaquit officially turned over to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas the approved route plan which has a total of 25 rationalized routes after several amendments were introduced.
Along with the approved changes in the city’s LPTRP was an endorsement letter signed by LTFRB chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III.
The LPTRP will be implemented for at least three years.
Consistent with the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Transportation (DOTr), the LPTRP may only be updated at least once every three years after the last approval, according to Guadiz.
No revision in the route name, mute structure, mode, and number of units will be allowed within the said period.
Guadiz also noted there was no changes in the 1,767 authorized units from the previously approved LPTRP routes; only the route structure and length were amended.
Treñas conformed to the conditions by affixing his signature to LTFRB’s endorsement letter.
According to Gaquit, the endorsement letter will be sent back to the LTFRB central office for the issuance of a revised Notice of Compliance (NOC).
After the issuance of the NOC, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is expected to adopt the enhanced LPTRP via an ordinance.
The LTFRB central office will then issue a Supplemental Memorandum Circular for the implementation of the enhanced route plan.
‘First town’ PUVs
The entry to the city of public utility vehicles (PUVs) from Iloilo province’s first towns – Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Oton, and San Miguel – will still be allowed.
Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, said the city government manifested to the LTFRB that it has no objection to the entry of first town PUVs.
Iloilo City included the first towns in its original routes but this was disapproved.
According to the DOTr, the provincial government should be the one to request for the first town PUVs to enter the city and it should be incorporated in its own LPTRP.
Treñas said Iloilo City will be the first local government to implement an LPTRP – a critical step towards improving the public transportation system.
“Despite the challenges we faced during the process, we remained committed to this important initiative, recognizing that it is a necessary requirement for creating a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible public transportation system,” said Treñas.
The LPTRP is designed to achieve several important goals, including reducing the number of commuter vehicles on the road, merging existing routes to make them more viable for operators and drivers, and enhancing the overall convenience and safety of public transportation for the riding public.
“With the approved LPTRP now in our hands, we will be working to ensure that it is endorsed to the city council based on the necessary amendments for the ordinance, and subsequently published to be effective,” he added.
He added: “We will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the LPTRP is successfully implemented, and that our community benefits from a safe, convenient, and accessible public transportation system in Iloilo City.”
The original route plan was suspended last year following adverse public reaction to the inconveniences it brought./PN
