By Abegail G. Lapating and Ciarra Mae G. Imbang
Student Regent Hershey Geline represented West Visayas State University (WVSU) during Iloilo City’s transport summit held at University of the Philippines Visayas Little Theater, Iloilo City Campus, last August 30, 2022, at 7:30 A.M
Organized by the Office of Iloilo City Councilor and Committee Chairman of Transportation, Atty. Sedfrey L. Cabaluna, the event aims to solicit concrete solutions and recommendations to resolve the issue surrounding the modification of jeepney routes implemented by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The whole-day activity includes a series of presentations on the concept of the Public Vehicle Modernization Program, Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), amendments and modifications, other sectoral presentations, team workshops, and discussions in line with the Transport System in Iloilo City.
Student Regent Hershey Geline Sumpay and WVSU USC Councilor Arlie Bosque were among the participants, and other representatives from the University of the Philippines (UPV), John B Lacson, Iloilo Science, and Technology University (ISAT U).
At the event, Sumpay raised the issue of the lack of units of public jeepney vehicles and congestion. She also urged strengthening information dissemination to all commuters and implementing a 20% discount for students.
After the discussion, Bosque presented the collated recommendations of the student sector to the officers of LTFRB Region VI, Public Safety and Transportation Iloilo, Councilor Cabaluna, and all transport group representatives. One of the suggestions is implementing a coding system for private vehicles.
On Facebook, Arlie Bosque expressed his gratitude towards Atty. Cabaluna. “We would like to extend our gratitude to the office of Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna for giving the students an avenue to voice our concerns on the effects of the LPTRP implementation in the city.”
In an interview of Bombo Radyo with Councilor Atty. Cabuluna, he shared that there were over 100 attendees at the summit. Among the stakeholders are transport groups, academic institutions, commuters, and barangay officials.
The port Summit is led by the LPTRP Technical Working Team of Iloilo City and headed by Mr. Jeck Conlu and officials. Also present at the event are partnering agencies, namely PSTMO, Transport Cooperatives/Corporations, LTO, PNP, Provincial LGU, Media Partners, Business Sectors, Academe Sectors, Private Sectors, and participants from Bacolod City.
