ILOILO City – The “enhanced” Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) here is set to roll out in the first quarter of 2024.
It will not be implemented before the end of 2023, announced Jeck Conlu, head of the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), in a press conference yesterday.
Given the upcoming holiday season, everyone is preoccupied, he pointed out.
Nevertheless, he said, they were making progress on preparing road signages.
“The remaining months of 2023 are dedicated to gearing up for the full-scale implementation in January next year,” said Conlu.
Earlier in October, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted provisional authority to traditional jeepneys.
“We intended to enforce it immediately. However, with the current provisional permissions, the scenario remains unchanged,” said Treñas.
The full implementation of the LPTRP covers both modernized and traditional jeepneys, the designation of loading/unloading bays, training for drivers, and a massive information drive that will start next week.
The city government has initially designated 28 of the 850 loading/unloading bays in major city streets.
Conlu said they prioritized the installation of loading and unloading bays from Iznart Street to Plaza Libertad in the City Proper district due to the limited supply of thermoplastic paint.
He added the Department of Public Works and Highways would also help install loading bays while various transport cooperatives would donate signage to fast-track the needed infrastructure.
The enhanced LPTRP will introduce 17 streamlined routes, an innovative developmental path, and seven additional developmental routes.
Rationalized routes
* Bo. Obrero Lapuz to Iloilo City Loop (69 units)
* Villa Plaza to City Proper via Calumpang (84 units)
* Ungka to Iloilo City Proper via CPU (188 units)
* Ungka to City Proper via Aquino Avenue/ Festive Walk (61 units)
* Festive Walk transport hub to Iloilo City via Diversion/SM City (69 units)
* Lanit to Infante Via SM City (105 units)
* Compania to City Proper Loop (70 units)
* Parola to SM City via Infante Loop (46 units)
* Mohon to City Proper (69 units)
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper (232 units)
* Ticud La Paz to City Proper (149 units)
* Mandurriao to City Proper via Festive Walak / Aquino Avenue (43 units)
* Hibao-an to City Proper via Tabucan (158 units)
* Hibao-an to Jaro via Festive/ Aquino Avenue (73 units)
* Molo to City Proper via Baluarte Loop (43 units)
* Bito-on to Jaro via Balabago Loop (51 units)
* Villa Baybay to Iloilo City Proper (152 units)
New/developmental routes
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper via La Puz (15 units)
* Bitoon to City Proper via La Paz (15 units)
* Mohon to ISATU via Sooc/Festive Walk (15 units)
* Buntatala/ Tagbak to Festive Walk via SM City/Atria (15 units)
* Ungka to La Paz via CPU/ISAT U LOOP (15 units)
* Mohon to Mandurriao Business District (15 units)
* La Paz to Festive Walk via Nabitasan Loop (15 units)
Enhanced new/developmental route
* Molo to City Proper via General Luna (15 units)
Under this plan, the city will require 1,782 modernized jeepney units to be authorized for operations.
At present, the city has approximately 500 units running. However, PSTMO assures that with the LPTRP’s full implementation, there will be ample modernized jeepneys to cater to the commuting public. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
