BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has approved a total of 49 public utility jeepney (PUJ) routes for Iloilo under its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
Of the number, 43 PUJ routes are existing and six routes are developmental or new.
The rationalized routes also include two filcabs, nine utility van express, one mini-bus, 12 public utility buses (PUB), and one PUB new route.
The DOTr directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to conduct a “final evaluation and presentation” of the approved route plan and the proposed routes before issuing a notice of compliance (NOC) to the Provincial Government. Once compliance notice is issued, the Provincial Board will pass an ordinance for the implementation of its LPTRP.
Under Executive Order 202, series of 1987, the LTFRB shall “prescribe and regulate routes of service, economically viable capacities and zones or areas of operations of public land transportation services provided by motorized vehicles by the public land transportation development plans and program.”
The LTFRB Central Office was also instructed to submit a progress report to the DOTr, including correspondence attachments concerning its implementation and monitoring plan.
Lawyer Salvador “Jun” Altura Jr., LTFRB-6 officer-in-charge, expressed optimism that their central office would issue a final evaluation report of Iloilo’s route plan by July.
In his recent press briefing, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he met with DOTr Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega to follow up on the status of the province’s route plan.
As a temporary setup, the city government currently allows at least 40 percent of jeepneys per route from the “first towns,” including Leganes, Oton, and Pavia to enter the city during peak hours, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and 25 percent during off-peak hours.
On the other hand, all “first towns” jeepneys are also allowed to enter Iloilo City during holidays and weekends pending the issuance of compliance notice of the province’s LPTRP.
The LPTRP, one of the 10 components under the public transport modernization program (PTMP), is designed to optimize routes, reduce congestion, and ensure better service for commuters.
Of the six provinces in Western Visayas, five have submitted LPTRPs, but the DOTr so far approved only the route plans of Guimaras and Iloilo.
Likewise, only 10 cities among the 14 cities in the region have submitted their LPTRPs. Of the 10 cities, the DOTr approved only the route plans of the three cities.
The LTFRB-6 received 76 submissions and evaluated 59 LPTRPs. However, the LTFRB Central Office has approved only two LPTRPs for implementation.
For the highly urbanized cities (HUCs) category, Iloilo City and Bacolod City achieved a 100 percent submission and approval rate. While Iloilo City fully implemented its LPTRP last May 27, Bacolod City plans to conduct a dry run before full implementation.
Altura, LTFRB-6 director, said they received 93 LPTRPs as of April 2024, representing 66.91 percent of the expected number.
Altura said the low approval rate could be attributed to delays in the resubmission of proposed LPTRPs by LGUs to give them more time to revise it.
“The problem is, we do not give a timeframe for them to return the corrections we recommended,” Altura stressed.
He also noted that the LTFRB cannot compel LGUs to draft and complete their route plan.
But he said the Department of the Interior and Local Government is not requiring LGUs to have their LPTRP to qualify for the Seal of Good Local Governance award.
Drafting and submitting the LPTRP involves several steps, from initial planning to final approval.
It also includes the conduct of a comprehensive assessment of the current public transport system and the gathering of data on passenger demand, existing routes, traffic patterns, and infrastructure.
The LGU will submit the LPTRP to the LTFRB, which will then forward it to the DOTr for evaluation and approval.
The LGU’s draft route includes all necessary documentation, including technical analyses, stakeholder consultation reports, and LGU endorsements.
The DOTr reviews the submitted LPTRP for compliance with national policies and standards. The agency may also conduct its assessment to ensure the plan’s feasibility and potential benefits.
If the DOTr approves the LPTRP, it provides the necessary authorization for implementation. However the submitted route plan requires revisions, and the DOTr provides feedback and requests modifications. The revised plan is resubmitted to the DOTr for final approval.
The DOTr approves LPTRPs of HUCs or provinces, while the LTFRB Central Office is responsible for approving the plans of component cities or municipalities.
Under the PUV modernization program, drivers and operators are promised stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely, and comfortably.
The DOTr noted that the program features regulatory reform and sets new guidelines for franchises for road-based public transport services.
The local government units are empowered to draft their route planning considering they are more versed in the terrain and passenger demand within their territorial jurisdiction./PN
