LTFRB to re-survey Bacolod jeepneys in September

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will conduct a re-survey of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) here from Sept. 8 to 20.

This was discussed during a recent meeting of Mayor Greg Gasataya with officials of LTFRB-6 and the LTFRB national office to address ongoing concerns about PUJs operating within the city.

In a press briefing on Monday, Gasataya said the LTFRB central office, with support from the city government, will determine the appropriate number of vehicles needed per route and explore the possibility of opening new routes.

The survey will also include a transfer plan for operators, allowing them to shift to different routes if there is an oversupply of units on their current ones.

“Hopefully, within a month, they can come up with an evaluation or recommendation,” the mayor said.

Currently, Bacolod has 24 routes under the new Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).

Authorities, however, have observed that some traditional PUJs continue to operate without franchises after failing to consolidate under the modernization program.

As of April, there were 605 modernized units and 1,266 consolidated traditional units operating in the city.

Gasataya said the meeting also tackled the delegation of authority to determine the number of vehicles allowed per route, which currently falls under LTFRB jurisdiction, while the City Council typically oversees destination points.

He said he also asked whether an ordinance or resolution is needed to adopt LTFRB’s recommendations on vehicle allocations per route.

Meanwhile, Gasataya said the proposed establishment of an LTFRB satellite office here was not included in last week’s discussion, as their focus was on PUJ concerns.

The city has renewed its appeal through a resolution authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights, History, and Veterans Affairs, to put up an LTFRB satellite office in Bacolod.

The resolution was spurred by a recent meeting between Gamboa’s committee and local transport groups.

In the resolution, the City Council urged Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to establish the said office here.

During a dialogue, drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) voiced their struggles in traveling to Iloilo City—home of the LTFRB-6 office—to secure vital documents such as the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).

The resolution underscored LTFRB’s role in regulating public land transportation and issuing CPCs to ensure compliance with safety, route, and service standards.

In a media interview, Gamboa stressed that the absence of a local LTFRB office imposes an undue burden on PUV operators.

He clarified that the request is for a satellite office only and does not conflict with any future plans to establish a full LTFRB regional office under the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Gamboa added that a satellite office would benefit not only Bacolod residents but also those in surrounding areas of Negros Occidental, improving service accessibility and operational efficiency for the transport sector.

The city government made a similar request to the LTFRB national office in 2023, aiming to ease the challenges faced by local operators in complying with regulatory requirements.