Through the intervention of Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit (ICTMU) head retired Police Col. Uldarico Garbanzos and the alliance of city loop transport cooperatives, represented by Perfecto Yap, agreed to temporarily allow the entry of 40 percent of first town public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to Iloilo City during peak hours (6 - 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.) pending the approval of the Provincial Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
The decision came after a lengthy discussion during a meeting called by Governor Defensor with the transport groups, ICTMU, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) OIC regional director Atty. Salvador Altura, Jr. Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) head Mario Nillos were also present to help address the concerns of the first town PUJs and their passengers as an offshoot of the implementation of Iloilo City's Enhanced LPTRP (ELPTRP).
Under the ELPTRP, only 25 percent of first-town jeepneys (those coming from Oton, Pavia, Leganes and Sta. Barbara) are allowed to enter the city with a 15 percent buffer if needed.
The new scheme resulted in a throng of complaints from the drivers and operators of first town PUJs claiming that it would reduce their take-home while the affected passengers complained of inconvenience and additional fare expense.
Gov. Defensor vowed to follow up on the status of the Provincial LPTRP at the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and will ask for its speedy approval.
Following the agreement with ICTMU and the city loop transport alliance, the governor also asked the first town PUJs to put an end to their transport holiday, which was supposed to last until tomorrow, June 4, which they readily heeded.
The transport groups also vowed to adhere to whatever will be approved by the DOTR in the Provincial LPTRP.