ILOILO City – Jeepney drivers and operators welcome the impending suspension of the city government’s Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) that prohibits provincial jeepneys from entering the metro.
“Gray areas” of the plan need fine-tuning, according to Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC).
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order No. 001-2022 on Friday temporarily suspending the LPTRP) for 45 days effective July 8.
“Basi pa man lang sa 45 days matapos na ang mga problema. Pag-implement sang June 12 may mga problema. Damu reklamo. Isa kita sa nagareklamo sa mga ruta nga ginpang-utod,” said Parcon.
Jeepneys from so-called “first towns” (municipalities of Pavia, Leganes and Oton that are adjacent to the city) with already short routes were told to just unload their city-bound passengers at the transport terminals in the city’s periphery barangays then return to their points of origin.
According to Parcon, they have yet to sit down with the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) on how to go about with the suspension.
Treñas ordered a seven-day transition period (July 1 to 7) leading to the LPTRP suspension and tasked the PSTMO lead the transition. It must coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and transport cooperatives plying the routes in Iloilo City, as well as with the transport associations of the “first towns” and the old city loop routes.
When the LPTRP was enforced, some “first town” jeepney drivers and operators secured special permits from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to serve city loop routes instead so as not to be economically displaced.
With the LPTRP suspension, there could be new requirements for these “first town” jeepneys to revert to their old routes.
Among others, Parcon said, the “first town” jeepneys would certainly have to remove their unit’s new route stickers and return to their old route body signboards.
Does LTFRB need to revoke the special permits it issued to them?
Also, Treñas’ executive order stated that the new routes opened by the LPTRP would remain and must be serviced.
These and other concern should be clarified by the PSTMO, said Parcon.
For their part, IIoilo City Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICAJODA) – Panay Transport Cooperative (PTC) vice chairman Leody Lara said the LPTRP suspension is a “huge favor”, pointing out that their 94 units have not been able to operate since March this year because of problems in their application or petition for consolidation of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) to a PUJ Service.
According to Lara, of the 140 units under their cooperative, only 46 have been awarded with routes after they affiliated with the other transport cooperative.
They are hopeful that during the 45-day LPTRP suspension where old routes will return, their 94 units will also be able to go back operating.
In ordering the LPTRP suspension, Treñas cited the still existing coronavirus disease pandemic which requires the observance of health and safety protocols, the increasing prices of commodities, the inflation experienced by both national and local economies, the public clamor, and the impending increase of commuters due to the upcoming opening of classes.
These necessitate appropriate adjustments to the current implementation of the new routes, according to Treñas./PN
