ILOILO City – Alarmed by mounting backlash from local operators, Mayor Raisa Treñas has called an emergency meeting of the Local Public Transport Route Committee (LPTRC) to address the uproar over the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) approval of 100 “blue taxi” units in the city.
The meeting — slated for today afternoon, October 29, at City Hall — will bring together representatives from taxi cooperatives and corporations, transport workers’ groups, commuter associations, and the academe.
The LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have also been invited to attend amid growing public pressure for transparency in the franchise issuance.
According to Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, spokesperson for Mayor Treñas, members of the Association of Taxi Operators of the Philippines (ATOP) – Iloilo personally met with the mayor to express fears that the new fleet could displace long-standing local taxi firms.
“The mayor acknowledges the concerns of the taxi operators and wants to address them through proper dialogue,” Gorzal said. “She immediately directed the LPTRC to convene and take up the matter to ensure all sides are heard.”
The LPTRC, chaired by Treñas, functions as the city’s policymaking body for route planning and regulation. Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Transportation, serves as alternate chairperson, while Traffic Management Office head Uldarico Garbanzos acts as vice chairperson.
Gorzal stressed that the city government is not against innovation but seeks to ensure fairness in implementation.
“Mayor Treñas wants to make sure that any transport development in the city remains inclusive, fair, and beneficial to both commuters and drivers,” she said.
The LPTRC is expected to review the blue taxis’ route coverage, franchise compliance, and coordination with existing transport services.
“This consultation is a way to ensure that new transport initiatives will not disadvantage local drivers,” Gorzal added. “The mayor’s priority is a transport system that is modern yet just, efficient yet inclusive.”
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is pressing LTFRB Region 6 to clarify its approval of blue taxis managed by Davao-based operators amid fears of market oversaturation and unfair competition against local transport firms.
The move, confirmed by LTFRB-6 legal counsel Atty. Salvador Altura Jr., has sparked a wave of concern among local taxi operators, drivers, and city officials questioning the timing and necessity of the decision.
In response, the City Council’s Committee on Transportation, chaired by Councilor Cabaluna, has sent a formal letter to LTFRB-6 regional director Richard Osmeña requesting full disclosure of the basis for the approval.
The letter sought copies of the feasibility study, ridership data, utilization rates of existing taxi units, and records of public consultations conducted prior to granting the franchises.
“We respectfully express our concern over this development, particularly in relation to the current public transport demand and the existing number of taxi units operating,” Cabaluna said, noting that local operators have already reported declining passenger volumes that could worsen if more taxis enter the market without proper evaluation.
While acknowledging LTFRB’s regulatory mandate, Cabaluna stressed that transport initiatives must align with Iloilo City’s sustainable urban mobility plans and economic conditions.
“It is our duty to ensure that all transport-related initiatives within the city remain consistent with development plans and responsive to the needs of both operators and commuters,” he said.
The councilor underscored that the local government supports measures that enhance mobility and healthy competition but warned that coordination and data transparency are key to maintaining transport balance./PN