ILOILO City will adopt a new transportation plan for traffic efficiency with the expected increase in the number of public utility jeepneys (PUJ).

Councilor R Leone Gerochi said Tuesday, July 10, that there will be several new routes to be added and the old ones will be changed.

At present, Gerochi said the committee on transportation, energy and public utilities is in the middle of drafting a transport plan and the City Planning and Development Office is conducting a review of the traffic flow.

“I have to consult so many people about that and we will subject that to a public hearing,” Gerochi said.

He said the changes will be based on Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) computer program that determines whether a certain route is optimal or not.

He added that they will include in the plan the future routes needed as required by the LTFRB to allow the franchise of the vehicles.

The changes in the transportation system include the issuance of franchises among tricycle and PUJs. It was anchored on the joint memorandum circular of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the LTFRB.

Gerochi, together with Public Safety and Management Transportation Office head Jeck Conlu and Councilor Lyndon Acap, previously attended a seminar on transportation plan.

He said based on that seminar, jeepneys with the same route should be in a group and they will be advised to continue their route without any obstacles or hesitations.

The deadline to finish the draft of the transportation plan is within the year.