City gov’t extends LPTRP suspension

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo City Government extended for the fourth time the suspension of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) through an executive order (EO) released by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Thursday, Nov 3, 2022.

Treñas’ EO No. 94 extended the temporary suspension to Dec 31, 2022.

“With the approval of LTFRP (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) on our request for a suspension of LPTRP, I signed an executive order extending this suspension until December 31,” Treñas said on his Facebook page.

The EO also stated that the suspension can be lifted before Dec 31 if “the LPTRP is approved earlier by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the LTFRB.”

The city government also stated that the suspension will give them enough time for “the on-going public consultations regarding this matter (LPTRP) while anticipating recommendations from DOTr-LTFRB.”

Some of the reasons for the extension of suspension stated in the EO also include “the still existing COVID-19 pandemic which requires observance to health and safety protocols, the increasing prices of commodities, the inflation experienced by both national and local economies, the public clamor of the community, and the increase of commuters due to the resumption of face-to-face classes.”

The route plan was first implemented on June 12 through City Regulation No. 2022-027, approved by Treñas on January 28.

The mayor then first suspended the implementation of LPTRP through EO No. 1 series of 2022 issued last July 1, 2022, and extended the suspension for an additional 45 days, starting Aug 22 until Oct 6.

On Oct 4, days before the suspension was to expire, he again extended the suspension for another 45 days or until Nov 6 for further consultations.

The LTFRB even said before that they were concerned over the extended suspension of Iloilo City’s LPTRP as it created a “precedent of confusion” that other local government units (LGUs) in the country might follow.