ILOILO City – Preparations for the smooth implementation of the enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) here has started.
The city government received on Aug. 29 the operational guidelines for the LPTRP contained in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-036 issued by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Atty. Toefilo E. Guadiz III.
“Ang MC nagahatag sang otoridad or go signal nga puede na naton ma-implement ang enhanced LPTRP,” said Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu.
The enhanced LPTRP has 17 rationalized routes, one enhanced new/developmental route, and seven new/developmental routes.
“Within the year ma-implement gid naton. After matapos ang istoryahanay sang tanan nga agencies, ma-cite kami kon san-o naton i-implement but as soon as possible ina,” Conlu told Panay News.
The PSTMO has started discussing with LTFRB Region 6 and transport cooperatives and corporations the dissemination of information on the impending implementation of the enhanced LPTRP.
The city government will also start preparing the loading and unloading signages to be placed on identified routes.
Sufficient modernized jeepneys
Under the enhanced LPTRP, 1,782 authorized modernized jeepney units are needed or approved to operate in the city.
Currently, there are around 500 units in operation, but Conlu said once the enhanced LPTRP is implemented, there would be enough modernized jeepneys to serve passengers.
The PSTMO chief added that traditional jeepneys under cooperatives will continue to operate.
What will happen to “first towns” jeepneys?
Conlu said jeepneys from “first towns” Leganes, Pavia, San Miguel, and Oton are still allowed to enter the city while the LPTRP of the Iloilo provincial government is yet to be approved.
TRANSPORT COOPS CONDUCT CARAVAN TODAY
The Western Visayas Federation of Transport Cooperative and Corporation (WVFTCC) composed of more than 10 cooperatives and corporations will have a caravan today at 9 a.m. around the city to show their support for the enhanced LPTRP implementation.
The caravan also aims to create awareness among the people in Iloilo City and in the province that they are now ready for the implementation of LPTRP and support the modernization program, said WVFTCC president Rizal Alido.
The caravan will start in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro district and would go around transport terminals in the city and goes back to Tagbak Terminal.
Each cooperative and corporation has provided one modernized jeepney to join the caravan.
The caravan is supported by the PSTMO.
“We are part sang caravan. As part sang message sa aton commuters and public nga ang transport cooperatives and city government and LTFRB ang ready sa pag-implement kag paghatag sang better, efficient nga mode of transportation sa aton syudad,” Conlu said.
Under the MC No. 2023-036, the 17 rationalized routes, seven new/developmental routes and one enhanced new/developmental route are the following:
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)/PN
