ILOILO City – The Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI), composed of over 10 cooperatives and corporations, declared readiness for the implementation of the city government’s enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
“My heart beats in/for Iloilo City. My heart beats for (transport) modernization,” said WVATCCI president Rizal Alido.
They support the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the national government, he stressed.
Of the 1,782 modernized jeepney units authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to operate once the enhanced LPTRP is implemented, 486 units are already plying different routes in the city.
“Considering nga by December may LPTRP na kita sa syudad, gina-follow-up namon sa bangko (Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines) subong because ang requirement of this LPTRP nga ma-comply gid namon ang number of units,” Alido told Panay News.
He also appealed to banks to expedite the release of loans to cooperatives and corporations for additional modernized jeepney units.
“We hope ma-meet naton ang requirements nga 1,782 para ma-fully implement nga ma-modernize na ang units sang nagadalagan sa syudad,” he added.
In the meantime, traditional jeepneys that have consolidated their franchise will be used.
According to Alido, cooperatives and corporations want to level up the transport system since Iloilo City is being leveled up under the leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“Nag-unite ang cooperatives and corporations para matib-ong ang kawsa sang modernization para ang pag-solidify namon mangin daku nga tingog para sa aton lugar, and para maserbisyohan sang maayo sang modernized units ang commuters,” said Alido.
The members of WVATCCI are as follows:
* Molo Transport Service Cooperative
* Santa Barbara – New Lucena Transport Service Cooperative
* Aerostar Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo Superman Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo City Alliance Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* JJL Transport Corporation
* Pavia Iloilo Jeepney Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Joroshley Transport Services Incorporated
* Western Visayas Transport Cooperative
* Leon Transport Service Cooperative
* Calumpang Iloilo Service Transport Cooperative
Meanwhile, Sherry Rose T. Songano, Vice President of the WVATCCI and President of the Joroshely Transport Services Inc. said that the main slogan of the alliance is “Ang Progreso ng Bayan Huwag nating Pigilan, Modernisasyon ng Pampublikong Sasakyan Bigyan natin ng Daan.”
For his part, Jeck Conlu, head of Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), said, “We are here to support and give all the city government resources para mangin matawhay kag successful ang ining programa sang national government.”
He added that since the city government is one of the first to implement the program this year, they want everything ready to avoid confusion and inconvenience among commuters.
That is why preparations are underway with partner government agencies such as the LTFRB, Land Transportation Office, Highway Patrol Group, and the city government’s Technical Working Group (TWG).
The Iloilo City Engineering Office also prepared the loading and unloading bays, readied the enforcement team, and, most importantly, will conduct massive information dissemination.
The PSTMO and TWG are also planning to visit schools, universities, establishments, government offices, and other stakeholders for the LPTRP education drive.
“Daw reminder sa tanan nga sectors and riding public kon ano bala ang matabu sa enhanced LPTRP once nga i-implement naton because ang memorandum circular amo na ang nagahatag sa aton sang go signal nga puede na kita maka-implement,” Conlu added.
Last week, the city government received the operational guidelines for the LPTRP contained in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-036 issued by LTFRB chairperson Atty. Toefilo E. Guadiz III.
Under the MC No. 2023-036, the 17 rationalized routes, seven new/developmental routes and one enhanced new/developmental route are the following:
Rationalized routes
* Bo. Obrero Lapuz to Iloilo City Loop (69 units)
* Villa Plaza to City Proper via Calumpang (84 units)
* Ungka to Iloilo City Proper via CPU (188 units)
* Ungka to City Proper via Aquino Avenue/ Festive Walk (61 units)
* Festive Walk transport hub to Iloilo City via Diversion/SM City (69 units)
* Lanit to Infante Via SM City (105 units)
* Compania to City Proper Loop (70 units)
* Parola to SM City via Infante Loop (46 units)
* Mohon to City Proper (69 units)
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper (232 units)
* Ticud La Paz to City Proper (149 units)
* Mandurriao to City Proper via Festive Walak / Aquino Avenue (43 units)
* Hibao-an to City Proper via Tabucan (158 units)
* Hibao-an to Jaro via Festive/ Aquino Avenue (73 units)
* Molo to City Proper via Baluarte Loop (43 units)
* Bito-on to Jaro via Balabago Loop (51 units)
* Villa Baybay to Iloilo City Proper (152 units)
New/developmental routes:
* Buntatala/Tagbak to City Proper via La Puz (15 units)
* Bitoon to City Proper via La Paz (15 units)
* Mohon to ISATU via Sooc/Festive Walk (15 units)
* Buntatala/ Tagbak to Festive Walk via SM City/Atria (15 units)
* Ungka to La Paz via CPU/ISAT U LOOP (15 units)
* Mohon to Mandurriao Business District (15 units)
* La Paz to Festive Walk via Nabitasan Loop (15 units)
Enhanced new/developmental route
* Molo to City Proper via General Luna (15 units)./PN
