Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are again urging the Department of Transportation (DoTR) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reconsider their proposed Local Public Transportation Route Plan (LPTRP) in Palawan, saying the current approach is impractical and harmful to local livelihoods.
Board Members Ryan Maminta and Al Nashier Ibba said the provincial government, through the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), has submitted several proposals over the past two years.
However, the proposals were repeatedly rejected for not meeting the requirements of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The two officials argued that the plan pushed by the national agencies—which would designate long-distance “bus-only routes”—does not fit Palawan’s geography and would make travel harder for commuters.
“Impractical dahil napakahaba ng tutunguhin, ng lalakbayin, at napakahaba rin ng hihintayin ng mananakay kung end-to-end from Puerto Princesa to Buliluyan and Puerto Princesa to El Nido,” Maminta said in a privilege speech.
He also criticized the agencies for crafting policies without considering the realities on the ground.
Ibba added that after conducting several public hearings, they concluded that the proposed plan is not suitable for Palawan.
“Hindi napapakinggan ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa mga hindi akmang rules and rulings na doon lamang dini-desisyonan sa mga opisina ng DoTR at LTFRB samantalang pwede silang dumako dito at tingnan yung practicality ng gusto nilang gawin sa lalawigan,” he said.
“Nag-come up na tayo ng proposal na ito ang dapat, ito ang akma sa lalawigan ng Palawan pero nakakalungkot na hindi nasunod yun,” he said.
The original LPTRP, meant to be implemented from 2019 to 2023, was never carried out. Yet, the same version has been brought back by the agencies, prompting criticism from provincial officials. “
Under the 2024–2028 proposal, the Puerto Princesa–El Nido route would be served by 140 public utility vehicles, Puerto Princesa–Buliluyan by 172 units, and the west coast route by 78 units.
These would include 323, 393, and 174 UV Express vans respectively. But Maminta said the DoTR and LTFRB later revised the plan, removing UV Express services and insisting on buses as the sole transport mode.
“Ito yung plano at nais nating i-review, aprubahan at tingnan yung practicallity ng application niya sa lalawigan at sa comfort, accessibility and safety ng ating mananakay,” Maminta said.
“Hindi akma sa ating proposal na isinumite ng PPDO at SP, taking into account yung kanilang strict adherence daw doon sa omnibus franchising guidelines at modernization. Samantalang hindi nila tinitingnan yung lawak at haba ng lalawigan ng Palawan at yung practicality ng operation ng buses and existing terminal,” he added.
Maminta also warned that replacing UV Express services with buses could wipe out local transport businesses and allow companies from outside Palawan to take over.
“Matatanggal sila at papalit ang mga bus na hindi naman taga dito sa atin, hindi tayo makikinabang kasi taga Manila yan,” he said.
He also questioned whether there were other motives behind the agencies’ insistence on a bus-only system.
Meanwhile, many passengers still rely on UV Express vans for daily travel, even if some operators are now considered “colorum.”
With the LPTRP still pending approval halfway into the 2024–2028 period, the provincial board agreed to invite DoTR and LTFRB officials, along with representatives of the transport sector, for another dialogue to resolve the issue.
“Nasa gitna na tayo ng 2024-2028, hindi pa na-aprubahan ang plano. Once and for all, let us decide ano ba ang akma at ano ba ang dapat para sa lalawigan ng Palawan sa transport,” Maminta said.
