ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative (ICAODTC) has postponed the operation of its modern jeepneys. They have been told by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to complete their garage first in Barangay Sambag, Jaro district, said Rizal Alido, ICAODTC board secretary.
ICAODTC launched its modern jeepneys on May 8 and announced that 12 units would start operating after a week.
But according to Alido, LTFRB won’t issue ICAODTC a franchise for modern jeepneys without first completing its garage.
“We are trying to finish everything. We are fast-tracking the construction of our garage’s roof,” he said. “Kon matapos naton next week, mabyahe na ang aton mga modern jeepneys.”
Or the ICAODTC may time the operation of its modern jeepneys with the first day in office of Mayor-elect Jerry Treñas on July 1, said Alido.
“Our transportation is leveling up, just as what our new mayor wants for our city,” he stressed.
The government’s move to modernize Philippine public transport aims to minimize air pollution and improve public transport safety. Most jeepneys are not compliant with smoke emission standards, according to the LTFRB.
The modernization program would be fully implemented by 2020. All passenger jeepneys 15 years old and older will be phased out.
LTFRB already approved the fare rate for the modern jeepneys – P10.20 for the first four kilometers and an additional P1.20 for every succeeding kilometer.
ICAODTC modern jeepneys would be using the Automatic Fare Collection System (tap cards) in the near future, said Alido, but for now Passenger Assistance Officers would be collecting the fare from passengers.
The cooperative targets to operate a total of 110 modern jeepneys before this year is over,
A unit cost P2,040,000.
Each unit has a capacity of 25 passengers and has an air-conditioning system.
LTFRB approved the following initial routes:
* from the Iloilo Terminal and General Services Inc. (ITGSI) terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district to the City Proper via Jaro CPU and vice versa
* the Jaro CPU Derecho route (from Barangay Sambag, Jaro to the City Proper and vice versa)
* from the ITGSI terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro to the City Proper via Diversion Road and vice versa
* from Arevalo district to the City Proper and vice versa
ICAODTC is the first Iloilo City transport cooperative registered with the Cooperative Development Authority and approved by the Office of Transportation Cooperatives under the Department of Transportation on August 2018 after complying with requirements which included at least P300,000 paid up capital, an office and a garage./PN
