ILOILO City – Change franchises to enter this city.
Jeepneys of “first towns” or municipalities that are members of the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras Economic Development Council – Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Oton, and San Miguel – have this option, according to the legal counsel of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
The Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) bars provincial jeepneys from entering the city.
According to Atty. Jun Altura, “first towns” jeepneys can change their franchises so they can operate in the city but through city transport cooperatives of which they should become members first.
“Kon kulang (jeepney units) sa syudad, pwede sila gamiton sang ila coop(erative) nga magbyahe sa syudad, islan lang ila franchise,” said Altura.
“Pero maagi sila sa coop(erative). Aplayan sang coop nila sa LTFRB nga gaan sila sang lain nga franchise nga makabyahe sila sa syudad,” he stressed.
Many “first town” jeepney drivers lamented of being economically displaced due to the implementation of the LTFRB.
Why can’t provincial jeepneys enter the city under the LPTRP?
Altura said the LPTRP is based on the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program jointly espoused by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Sandig sa Joint Memorandum Circular 2017-011, all local government units must have an LPTRP. Iloilo City complied. Nagpasar sang LPTRP, gin aprobahan ini sang DOTr. Gin adopt sang Sangguniang Panlungsod in an ordinance,” Altura explained.
The city ordinance, however, is applicable only in the territorial jurisdiction of the city.
“(Thus) kon may ara dyep sang una ang byahe nila gagwa sila sa syudad like Leganes, Pavia, Santa Barbara and Oton, bangod sa LPTRP indi na sila ka sulod sa syudad,” said Altura.
He further pointed out that the city ordinance cannot mandate or regulate the routes of utility jeepneys from “the first towns” because they are not part of the city’s jurisdiction.
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu disclosed that their LPTRP proposal originally included “first town” jeepneys but this was disapproved thrice by the DOTr.
“Wala gid kami tani problema sa pagsulod sang provincial jeepneys from MIGEDC-member towns,” said Conlu.
He also cited LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2017-030 (Guidelines for Off-Street Terminal Operations Under Department Order No. 2017-011, otherwise known as “The Omnibus Franchising Guidelines”) which, among others, provides that “all routes classified as provincial operation with routes ending at highly urbanized city or metropolitan area shall be up to the integrated Terminal Exchange only, if available.”/PN
