Transport groups consult commuters on Iloilo transport policies

By Juliane Judilla

Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), led by national president Mody Floranda, conducted a commuters’ consultation on the effects of various transport policies in Iloilo City on Wednesday, Jan. 28, in La Paz.

Students, who make up the majority of daily public transportation commuters, comprised the largest sector represented in the consultation.

Floranda said the activity is part of PISTON’s nationwide campaign to establish local chapters of PARA Commuter Networks to amplify the concerns of both public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and commuters.

“Our visits to the regions aim to assess the current situation of drivers and commuters under the government’s modernization program,” Floranda said in an interview with Daily Guardian.

Before the consultation, Floranda and members of the local transport group No to PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay held a dialogue with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region VI Director Richard Osmeña.

The discussion focused on the government’s PUV Modernization Program, including its policies, the Local Public Transport Route Plan, and compulsory consolidation, which are currently being implemented across Panay.

Compulsory consolidation is a core component of the modernization program that requires individual jeepney operators to join cooperatives or corporations holding a single franchise for a specific route, intending to replace aging traditional jeepneys.

“The major call is for the massive renewal of five-year franchises because this is our right in terms of public service and the livelihood of the people,” Floranda said.

He added that transport cooperatives should not be monopolized and must remain independent.

As of Nov. 15, 2025, the Department of Transportation reported that 1,237 of the country’s 1,591 local government units had submitted draft Local Public Transport Route Plans, with 617 already approved.

Under the PUV Modernization Program, Iloilo City has rolled out an enhanced route plan featuring 17 rationalized routes and eight new developmental routes aimed at improving transit efficiency.

The plan emphasizes the deployment of modernized jeepneys alongside consolidated traditional units, bringing the total number of operational routes in the city to 25.