ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved the ordinance on the city’s enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
During yesterday’s regular session, it adopted the committee report of Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chairman of the committee on transportation.
“This is a tribute not only to the Technical Working Group (TWG) but sa mga Ilonggos. Everyone that commented, critique, suggested, inyo ini,” said Cabaluna in an interview after the session.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 earlier issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) for the city government’s LPTRP.
The city government was directed to pass an ordinance adopting the LPTRP pursuant to the “Guidelines on the Preparation and Issuance of Local Ordinances, Orders, Rules and Regulations concerning the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP)” issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Is this (route plan) perfect? We can never have a perfect policy pero trabahuon ta lang. Kon may pagkukulang da, let’s work together towards that direction,” the city councilor added.
The city government was tasked by LTFRB chairman, Atty. Teofilo E. Guadiz III, to include in the ordinance that the revision of the LPTRP will only be allowed three years after the issuance of the supplemental NOC.
Thus, the committee advised the LPTRP TWG to finalize any recommendation as to the number of units of modernized jeepneys.
It also recommended that provisions allowing amendments on grounds of changes brought about by rapid development and justifying circumstances be incorporated to allow the city to respond to circumstances that may require changes as to the number of units, especially as to the developmental routes where the guidelines of the Department of Transportation allowed only a maximum of 15 units of modernized jeepneys.
“Diri lang kita may pag-alang-alang sa three-year provision for amendment kung naga-relate na sa number of units. But I have faith nga gin-limit man nila sa 15 ang developmental routes. May understanding man na ‘guro ang LTFRB nga, ti, kon mag-develop na gulpi, alang-alang 15 man na gihapon. We might not be able to amend it accordingly but we can always enhance it further, especially the number of units. I find no problem to the three-year rule. I take it as a consideration nga i-stabilize ta man ang aton mga decisions as to routes and units,” Cabaluna explained.
He noted the city, through Mayor Jerry Treñas, has manifested to comply with the three-year rule. However, he said it was not included or stated in the approved enhanced route plan.
“Gwa ‘ya ‘na, it is not saying nga we are not complying, we just don’t want it written para we will be able to deal with it accordingly if the circumstances call for it,” said Cabaluna.
The following are the new route names under the enhanced LPTRP:
* Bo. Obrero Lapuz to City Proper
* Villa Plaza to City Proper via Calumpang
* Ungka to City Proper via CPU
* Ungka to City Proper via Aquino Avenue/Festive Walk
* Festive Walk to City Proper via Aquino Avenue/SM City
* Lanit to Infante via SM City
* Compania to City Proper
* Parola to SM City via Infante
* Mohon to City Proper
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper
* Ticud, La Paz to City Proper
* Mandurriao to City Proper via Festive Walk/Aquino Avenue
* Hibao-an to City Proper via Tabucan
* Hibao-an to Jaro via Festive Walk/Aquino Avenue
* Molo to City Proper via Baluarte
* Villa Baybay to City Proper
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper via Lapuz
* Bito-on to City Proper via La Paz
* Mohon to ISAT-U via Sooc/Festive Walk
* Buntatala/Tagbak to Festive Walk via SM City/Atria
* Ungka to La Paz via CPU-ISAT-U Loop
* Mohon to Mandurriao Business District
* La Paz to Festive Walk via Nabitasan
* Molo to City Proper via General Luna
According to Councilor Romel Duron, the approved ordinance will be submitted to the LTFRB for issuance of a memorandum circular.
“After that, we can implement the enhanced LPTRP. Naturally you have to publish (the approved ordinance) and at the same time, may isa ka ruta nga gindugang. LTFRB has to announce nga there is now an opening for application for the new franchise,” Duron said.
Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, is hopeful that the city could implement the enhanced route plan by June this year./PN
