ILOILO City – “First town” public utility jeepneys can again enter the city and ply their old routes beginning today, the first day of suspension of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
“First town” jeepneys are those from the municipalities of Pavia, Leganes and Oton in Iloilo province that share borders with Iloilo City and therefore have short routes.
Their routes were made further short by the LPTRP that barred them from taking passengers to the city.
According to Atty. Salvador Altura, legal counsel of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6, there is no need for “first town” jeepneys to secure special permits to resume the old routes.
Their franchises were not cancelled even with the LPTRP’s implementation on June 12, he explained.
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu earlier clarified that while the old routes of the “first town” jeepneys would be revived, during the 45-day suspension of the LPTRP, the seven new routes that were created would remain. These new routes are the following:
* Tagbak – Lapuz via Coastal Loop
* Bito-on – La Paz via Coastal Loop
* Villa – Jaro via Sooc / Oñate / Festive Walk Transport Hub
* Tagbak – Festive Walk Transport Hub via SM City / Atria
* Ungka – La Paz via ISATU Loop
* Mohon – Mandurriao Business District
* La Paz – Festive Walk Transport Hub via Nabitasan Loop
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order No. 001-2022 temporarily suspending the LPTRP for 45 days.
Due to the LPTRP provincial jeepney ban, many drivers of Pavia, Leganes and Oton jeepneys were economically displaced.
Also, passengers from Iloilo province and those from Aklan, Capiz and Antique were forced to take two or three rides and thus spend more on fare so they could enter Iloilo City.
In ordering the suspension, Treñas also cited the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which requires 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.
All these, he said, necessitate appropriate adjustments to the LPTRP routes.
Jeepney drivers and operators welcome the LPTRP suspension.
“Gray areas” of the plan need fine-tuning, according to Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC).
“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.
Treñas tasked the PSTMO to 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, for today’s start of the LPTRP suspension.
“Within 45 days, obrahon namon ang tanan nga mga modifications, tanan nga nakuha sa consultations kag kon ma-approve sang DOTr (Department of Transportation), ma-implement kami LPTRP balik pero kon indi pa, ma-extend lang suspension,” said Conlu./PN
