Amidst the pandemic, a total of 681 local government units (LGUs) have submitted their Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs) to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in line with the government’s PUV Modernization Program.
“Kinikilala natin ang mahalagang partisipasyon at pakikiisa ng ating mga LGUs sa pagplano at pagsagawa ng mga LPTRP sapagkat sila ang lubos na nakakaalam sa kanilang transportation landscape, partikular ang mga kailangang baguhin sa mga nakagawiang ruta at ang pagtugon sa supply ng mga pampublikong sasakyan at demand pagdating sa mga pasahero. Malaki ang pasasalamat natin sa suportang ibinibigay ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng PUVMP,” said LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III.
As indicated in the Joint Memorandum Circular of the DOTr and the DILG, LGUs are tasked with planning intra-city, intra-municipality, and intra-provincial PUV routes within their locality. Primary considerations in developing the LPTRP are passenger demand, road hierarchy, and road capacity.
In 2018, the DOTr and the LTFRB conducted nationwide capacity-building activities on route planning and management. The activities were attended by 1,379 LGUs across the country, including more than 95% of priority LGUs as classified by the DOTr and the LTFRB.
The DOTr and the LTFRB-approved LPTRPs will serve as the basis for identifying the number and classification of PUVs that will operate within the area.
Out of the 681 LPTRPs submitted, 543 are from municipalities, 50 from provinces, 18 from highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs), and 70 from cities. A total of 61 LPTRPs have already been approved and given a Notice of Compliance (NOC). After the issuance of the NOC, the local government will then enact the LPRTP as an ordinance for it to come into effect.
Despite the pandemic, the DOTr and the LTFRB continue to provide technical assistance to the LGUs through online workshops and mentoring activities.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang paggabay ng DOTr, katuwang ang LTFRB, sa mga LGUs upang mabuo nila nang maayos at mahusay ang kanilang mga LPTRP. Prayoridad natin na komportable at ligtas ang byahe ng bawat Pilipinong komyuter kaya naman ating isinasaayos ang puno at dulo ng isang maayos na sistema ng tranportasyon at ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng organisadong ruta at pag-aangkop ng nararapat na dami ng pampublikong sasakyan sa bawat lugar,” said Chairman Delgra.
