ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow jeepneys from the so-called “first towns” to enter the city.
“First towns” are municipalities nearest Iloilo City – Pavia, Leganes, Oton, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara.
Treñas cited the primordial concerns of the public, especially daily commuters adversely affected by the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) that prohibits provincial jeepneys from entering the city.
“The city government held discussions with stakeholders such as local business owners and administrators of educational institutions. After a careful study, it is deemed best to allow Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) from the municipalities of Pavia, Oton and Leganes to enter and exit the City of Iloilo, so long as it is consistent with the guidelines of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and will not hamper the general welfare of the public,” read part of Treñas’ letter to LTFRB regional director Richard Osmeña and legal counsel Atty. Salvador Altura.
Altura said LTFRB officials have yet to discuss the request.
The LPTRP is part of the national government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). It envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihood while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably.
Not merely a vehicle modernization program, the PUVMP also devolved the function of route planning to local government units (LGUs) as they are more versed in the terrain and passenger demand within their respective territorial jurisdiction.
LGUs are required under the program to submit their own LPTRP as a prerequisite for the opening of public utility vehicle (PUV) franchises within their jurisdiction.
In Iloilo City, there are a total of 24 rationalized and new routes and a total of 1,767 authorized units will be servicing these new routes./PN
