THE Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod is expected to approve the city’s Land Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), which is one of the main components for the public utility vehicle modernization program.

During a recent virtual meeting, Bacolod City Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairman of the SP committee on transportation, assured transport operators that he will pass an ordinance adopting the city’s route plan.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) to Bacolod City on October 28, 2019.

Bacolod City was among the first local government units to be granted such a certificate for completing its route plan in Western Visayas.

The approved route plan, which outlines the route network and mode of transport for the delivery of land-based transport services in Bacolod, will also be the basis of the government’s prioritization of road transport network development projects.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2018-60 and Department Order No. 2017-011, or known as the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, the local government unit that was issued with compliance certificate should pass an ordinance adopting the approved route plan and endorse the same to this Regional Franchising Board.

Several public utility operators in Bacolod earlier sent a manifesto to Mayor Evelio Leonardia for the passage of the ordinance adopting the city’s route plan.

PUV operators applied for consolidation of their cooperatives or corporations being one of the components of the PUV modernization program.

They stressed that the delay in the passing of the ordinance would create an impact not just on all consolidated PUV operators and drivers but the general welfare of the city.