LTFRB pushing LGUs to send traffic route

CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 is now training traffic planners and managers of local government units (LGU) about the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said that the LPTRP is an important component of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Cuizon said LGUs are now given six months to submit their LPTRPs for approval by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and, once approved, it will be implemented by the LTFRB.

Cuizon said that under the LPTRP, national highways will be prioritized for buses, while jeepneys will be relegated to secondary or local roads.

The tricycles and trisikads, if allowed by LGUs, will be made to run only in tertiary or barangay roads.

Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) has been opposing the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) of LTFRB and DOTr.

Under the OFG, it will be the LGUs who shall be formulating its LPTRPs, which PISTON has been disputing.

Cuizon said the OFG is the first comprehensive plan that seeks to solve many problems in public land transportation system.

Under the OFG, which was released last year, LGUs can also formulate their own LPTRPs, which is a requirement for the lifting of the moratorium on franchise issuance. – GAN (FREEMAN)