ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo plans to reiterate its call to the Iloilo City Government to suspend its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
The SP through a resolution sought the city’s LPTRP suspension on March 15, 2022, three months before the scheduled implementation of the LPTRP on June 12.
SP committee on transportation chairman Provincial Board member Ramon Sullano expressed dismay that the city government did not heed their call.
For his part, the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu said a suspension will have adverse implications more on the transport cooperatives and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Transport groups that have been preparing for their modernization are now operating as transport cooperatives and have loan amortizations, said Conlu.
On the part of the LTFRB, it has already issued franchises to transport cooperatives based on the LPTRP.
“Maka-issue pa ang LTFRB sang mga franchise balik sa ila original nga ruta?” Conlu asked. “May legal basis pa bala si LTFRB maghambal nga balikan nyo to inyo franchise kay tanan to sila na-cancel na? Sa transport cooperative, sin-o masalo sang ila ginpang-hire nga mga tawo, ang daily expenses, ang ila loan amortization sin-o na mabayad?”
THE SP RESOLUTON
The SP resolution in March noted that Regulation Ordinance No. 2022-027 (LPTRP) by the city government limits the entry of provincial jeepneys from Leganes, Pavia and Santa Barbara to Iloilo City.
Previously, around 30% to 40% of provincial jeepneys are allowed to enter Iloilo City.
In asking for the suspension of LPTRP’s implementation, the SP cited the “spiraling increase in the prices of crude oil, gasoline and other petroleum products.”
“(T)he transport groups and the passengers coming from the municipalities will be burdened by taking multiple rides and exorbitant transportation fares,” it added.
Sullano said they have received many complaints from transport groups and passengers alike since the implementation of LPTRP and they are forwarding it to the city government through the PSTMO.
Sullano said they are hoping to sit down with city officials, transport groups and LTFRB to address the issues and concerns of both the provincial drivers and commuters.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the Iloilo Provincial Government (IPG), through the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), is continuously getting feedbacks and coordinates it with their counterpart in the Iloilo City government.
Meanwhile, contrary to the statement of Sullano, Conlu and Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city heeded the request and delayed the implementation of the LPTRP as it was supposed to be implemented in April after the LTFRB awarded the franchises to the transport cooperatives.
MEETING WITH IPG, MIGEDC
As part of the fine-tuning of the city’s LPTRP, the Iloilo City government met yesterday with the Iloilo provincial government and “first town” Local Government Units (LGUs) primarily affected by the new transport routes to address concerns.
Treñas also tapped the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) to discuss concerns on the newly-implemented LPTRP.
“The mayor requested the presence of provincial government and concerned LGUs to a venue where they could raise issues and concerns to be addressed in the process of implementation,” said MIGEDC executive director Velma Jane Lao.
In the first few days of implementation, commuters got confused. But after a week, the riding public became accustomed to the routes. Specifically, Pavia, Cabatuan and San Miguel representatives said they are now okay with the way things are going.
Conlu took note of “manageable concerns” of Leganes and Oton. He also considered the use of cargo pass for Santa Barbara to proceed to the Iloilo Terminal Market.
Lao said the discussions went well.
“Everyone was open and free to articulate their concerns, which were responded to by Mr. Conlu and Mr. Peñalosa (City Planning and Development Coordinator). A series of feedback sessions will be done as we continue to test run the plan for six months,” she added.
City Hall piloted the LPTRP upon the approval of the LTFRB and Department of Transportation.
“The hardest thing to manage is change but we can do this together. I agree with what Mr. Mario Nillos (Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator) has said. We now need to move forward,” Lao said. (With a reports from ECG, Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo, Alexandra Jover, Iloilo City PIO/PN)
