BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Several transport facilities in Western Visayas remain inaccessible and unsafe, especially to vulnerable groups, the Regional Development Council 6 (RDC-6) reported.
In its Regional Development Plan for 2023 – 2028, the council pointed out that several transport facilities, mostly operated by local government units (LGUs), in the region did not meet the standards set in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Memorandum Circular 2008-013 and the 1982 Accessibility Law, which provide guidelines in the establishment, maintenance, and operations of public transport terminals.
“Accessibility was hindered by lack of elevators/escalators, insufficient lighting and signage, dirty restrooms, and lack of security, among others,” the council observed.
The council also voiced “concerns” on the implementation of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of Iloilo City, the supposed pilot implementer of the route plan in the country until Mayor Jerry Treñas suspended it barely a month after its implementation and introduced some amendments.
The existing routes were rationalized and other routes were added supposedly to serve relocation areas and business districts.
“However, the LPTRP implementation caused road congestion and confusion among commuters and motorists, forcing LGU to suspend its implementation,” the council said.
The city government later revised its route plan and submitted the revised copy in November 2023. The Iloilo City Council passed an ordinance approving the city’s enhanced route plan in May 2023.
Under its enhanced LPTRP, Iloilo City has 17 rationalized routes, eight new intracity routes, one “enhanced” new route, and a total of 1,767 authorized modern units.
“Nonetheless, the gaps in the road networks, lack of public consultations with some sectors, and delays in the civil works of transport infrastructure need to be addressed soon to ensure the successful implementation of LPTRP of LGUs,’ the council stressed.
The government has been extending the deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) for the fifth time since 2022 supposedly to give more time to those drivers and operators who did not meet the deadline to consolidate.
This means that unconsolidated jeepneys and even UV Express nationwide may still be allowed to ply their usual routes until April 30, 2024.
Road Crash Deaths
Likewise, the RDC-6 reported that road crash fatalities continue to rise in the region at nine deaths per 100,000 population in 2019.
The pandemic-induced restrictions on mobility resulted in a sharp decline in 2020 at six deaths per 100,000 population. But the council said the number rose to seven after the travel restriction eased in 2021.
“With the full opening of the economy, there is a high possibility of the number of road fatalities to continue to rise,” the council said.
Analysis showed that there is a 10-25 percent chance of having at least one death in a particular road crash in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, the council said.
In the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, and Iloilo, there is a 3-10 percent chance of having at least one death in a road crash.
The council noted that Iloilo City, while recording a significant number of road crash cases, had a lower fatality rate with less than a three percent chance of having at least one death in a road crash.
The council noted the region’s momentum in accelerating infrastructure development was hampered by the slowdown in construction activities as a result of the lockdown and re-alignment of government funds for pandemic response and disaster rehabilitation efforts.
The council formulated strategy frameworks meant to achieve sustainable, resilient, integrated, and modernized infrastructure facilities and to deliver services effectively and efficiently.
These include the enhancement of planning, programming, and asset management in infrastructure by implementing integrated master development and convergence programs.
The council also stressed the need for seamless and inclusive connectivity via local and international linkages to move people, goods, and information through modernized and expanded transport and digital infrastructure through the active participation of the private sectors./PN
