- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said that his House Bill 293, which seeks the establishment of a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in the city, was approved in the committee level earlier today, Nov. 9.
Gasataya said that LTFRB officer-in-charge, Engr. Riza Marie Paches, expressed full support to his bill “pursuant to the delivery of efficient and effective service to the public”.
“The LTFRB also acknowledged our primary concern on the accessibility of the office in Region 6 as it is situated on an island separate from Negros and Bacolod City,” the solon said, adding that he is thankful to the House Committee on Transportation, headed by Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, and all those who supported the initiative.
Gasataya said the need for an LTFRB office in Bacolod is one of the concerns regularly raised by the local transportation sector, noting the distance and expenses in going to Iloilo. “Wala labot sini, mapalab-ot man naton sa national government ang mga immediate concerns sang aton drivers, operators, kag commuters sa ciudad sang Bacolod, labi na guid sa modernization program kag sa prangkisa para sa ila advise kag bulig,” he stressed.
The demand for services provided by the LTFRB in relation to franchise application, registration, regulation, issuance and sectoral subsidy programs has increased. But despite the rising number of stakeholders situated in the Metropolitan Bacolod area, constituents are still burdened with the inconvenience of travelling to the regional office in Iloilo just to transact with the LTFRB, HB 293 stated.
Recent events pertaining to the State’s fuel subsidy program where stakeholders, particularly transport groups representing 7,000 drivers in Bacolod City, failed to receive government subsidy amid a significant increase in fuel cost, emphasizes the need to establish an LTFRB office to cater to and oversee the situation of stakeholders in the area, it added.
Gasataya’s bill pushed for the establishment of a provincial LTFRB, to be known as the LTFRB-Negros Occidental Provincial Office, which shall exercise jurisdiction over the province and the city, and shall be located in Bacolod./CGC
