ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has described the feedback from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the province’s proposed Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) as “minimal”.
The plan – which aims to streamline public transport in the province and improve accessibility for commuters – was presented last week by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and personnel from the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).
“Our committee defended our LPTRP plan before the board, addressing minor adjustments in some areas,” said Defensor.
He cited overlapping routes in the third district, particularly between Maasin and Cabatuan towns, which the committee justified during the defense.
“The comments were minimal. The team was asked to justify the overlapping routes and route alignment,” Defensor said.
Despite these minor issues, he expressed confidence that the proposed LPTRP would pass, highlighting ongoing coordination with the LTFRB to incorporate their feedback.
Following approval, the LTFRB-Central Office will issue a notice of compliance. This notice will be forwarded to Governor Defensor’s office and then to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass the corresponding ordinance, after which the LPTRP will automatically take effect.
On June 18, Governor Defensor met with Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega to follow up on the status of the proposed LPTRP, initially submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in May 2024.
That submission marked the fourth draft of the LPTRP proposed by the province, following a province-wide simulation exercise conducted from February to March 2024 to validate the necessary routes and fleet size./PN
