LTFRB SPEAKS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT STATUS IN LA UNION
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC–SP | Photo By: Mark Andrew G. Sanchez - SP | Date: June 16, 2020
Transportation Development Office Chief Atty. Anabel M. Nullar of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region I (LTFRB RO I) serves as Resource Speaker during the 51st Regular Session of the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on June 16, 2020 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union. She apprised the August Body on the granting of franchise of tricycles and other transportation systems/ facilities and the public transport situation in the Province of La Union which could be used in aid of legislation.
During the 51st Regular Session of the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on June 16, 2020, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region I (LTFRB – Region I) Transportation Development Office Chief, Atty. Anabel M. Nullar was invited as Resource Speaker during the Question Hour to apprise the SP Members on the granting of franchise of tricycles and other transportation systems or facilities and the public transport situation in the Province of La Union as a result of the guidelines and protocols handed down by the national Inter-Agency Task Force – Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which could also be used in aid of legislation.
According to Atty. Nullar, considering that the country is still in the State of National Emergency, public transportation shall strictly observe and operate with limited passenger capacity or social distancing as well as required sanitary measures. Likewise, operations of public transport, such as tricycles and jeepneys, shall be allowed only in routes identified and approved by LTFRB. Local Government Units are not allowed to open routes within their jurisdiction without LTFRB’s approval.
She also said that with the modernization program of the national government, tricycle operations within the national highway and within the municipality/city with higher mode of public transportation will now be eliminated. Public utility vehicles not in conformity with the modernization program will no longer be allowed beginning January 1, 2021.
Meanwhile, also discussed during the said session was the submission of the component LGUs of their respective Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) or a plan detailing the route network, mode, and required number of units per mode for delivering public land transport services, wherein to date only the City of San Fernando has submitted.
A resolution or ordinance requesting the LTFRB to conduct a capacity building for the formulation of the LPTRP was proposed as part of the recommendations and the same was referred to the Committee on Transportation for further study.
