Extended routes to business park up for experimentation

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

To cope with the increasing number of passengers, four extended routes to Iloilo Business Park (IBP) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City will undergo six-month experimentation.

Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu confirmed that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Regional Office 6 (LTFRB-6) has approved four new extended jeepney routes to IBP of property giant Megaworld Corp.

Conlu said the new extended routes will allow jeepneys serving Pavia Highway, SM City Proper, Oton Anhawan and Leganes Highway to ferry commuters to the IBP.

“It was approved by LTFRB and will be subjected experimentation for six months. We will meet with the operators and we target to start the experimentation next week or if not on the first week of March,” he said on Thursday.

According to Conlu, the city government made the request through the PSTMO as jeepneys that presently serve the area cannot accommodate the increasing number of commuters.

“Kami ang nag-request nga kon pwede nga mag-extend sang route because sang demand sang passengers sang Megaworld. Indi na kasarang ang jeeps nga naga-cater because limited lang da ang gaagi,” he said.

Conlu said only the Mandurriao jeepneys and provincial jeepneys of San Miguel ply the business park.

The route extensions are also in anticipation of the foot traffic due to the growing number of BPO employees in the said area.

“We are anticipating the foot traffic because may mga employees kita da plus hotels, malls, and ang ila da na residential area will also be open na this year,” he said.

The IBP hosts the Iloilo Convention Center, the Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, and the four-level Festive Walk Mall.

It is also the location of condominiums and business processes outsourcing companies.

After the experimentation, Conlu said they will conduct an assessment to evaluate the outcomes of the four extended routes.

“May assessment kon bala enough ang jeep nga ginbutang naton, kon ang aton ginextend nga ruta naserve ang purpose or demand sang pasahero, wala man bala nagsubra ang jeep nga ginbutang naton. Definitely, ang ginalantaw namon ang passenger demand versus ang requirement,” he said.