BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Several transport operators in Western Visayas plan to bring key concerns to the attention of Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary Jaime Bautista during the transport summit scheduled for November 15 here.
According to Rizal Alido, chairman of the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperative and Corporation Inc. (WVATCCI), the summit aims to address issues impacting the region’s transport sector.
Among the topics to be discussed are the implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and the pending approval by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) of Iloilo Province’s Local Public Transport Route Plan.
Approximately 250 participants from Western Visayas and Cebu are expected to attend the upcoming summit, where they will discuss issues surrounding the implementation of the controversial modernization program.
Jeepney operators in Iloilo earlier raised several challenges with the implementation of the PUV modernization program.
Key issues include the high costs of acquiring modernized vehicles, which are often beyond the financial capacity of many operators, and limited access to financing options.
Additionally, operators have expressed concerns over the phasing out of traditional jeepneys, which threatens their livelihoods and puts pressure on them to adapt quickly.
There are also logistical challenges, such as adjusting to new routes under the Local Public Transport Route Plan and meeting compliance requirements, which have created uncertainty and frustration within the transport sector.
The DOTr has approved a total of 49 public utility jeepney (PUJ) routes for Iloilo under its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
Among these, 43 are existing routes, while six are developmental or new routes. The rationalized plan also includes two filcabs, nine utility van express routes, one mini-bus, 12 public utility buses (PUB), and one new PUB route.
The DOTr has instructed the LTFRB to conduct a “final evaluation and presentation” of the approved route plan and proposed routes. This step is necessary before issuing a notice of compliance (NOC) to the Provincial Government.
Once the NOC is issued, the Provincial Board will proceed to pass an ordinance for the implementation of the LPTRP.
In the recent press briefing, LTFRB Region 6 Director Richard Osmeña stated that the route plan for Iloilo Province is likely to be approved within this month.
LTFRB Region 6 Director Richard Osmeña noted that Western Visayas has the highest number of local government units that have complied with the LPTRP requirements.
LTFRB Region 6 reported a 97.22% consolidation rate of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Iloilo City and a 98.74% consolidation rate in Iloilo Province.
The LPTRP, a key component of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), is intended to optimize routes, reduce congestion, and improve commuter services.
Among the six provinces in Western Visayas, five have submitted their LPTRPs, but the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has approved only those of Guimaras and Iloilo.
In addition, only 10 out of the region’s 14 cities have submitted LPTRPs, with DOTr approving the plans for just three of these cities. LTFRB-6 received a total of 76 submissions and evaluated 59 LPTRPs, yet the LTFRB Central Office has approved only two for implementation.
In the highly urbanized cities (HUCs) category, both Iloilo City and Bacolod City achieved a 100% submission and approval rate. Iloilo City fully implemented its LPTRP on May 27, while Bacolod City plans a dry run before full implementation./PN
