The transport cooperative’s modern jeepneys will finally start to ply and cater passengers in Iloilo City starting Thursday, November 28.
Rizal Alido, board secretary of Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative (ICAODTC), said they will officially launch the start of their operation at ITGSI Terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City.
The first to operate will be those units with Ungka-ITGSI-Iloilo City via CPU and vice versa route with two shifting operations– from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Alido explained. Seven of the 28 jeepney units approved for the said route will go regular tripping. The remaining 21 are still being installed with stickers.

Alido said there will be a ceremonial take off of the first unit of modernized jeepney at around 7:00 a.m. at the said terminal.
It will be witnessed by officials of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and city officials.
Next week, Alido said additional eight units will be deployed and the remaining 13 units will hit the roads after another week.
There are a total of 104 units approved for ICAODTC for four routes.
Alido said the Villa Baybay then Ungka-ITGSI via Diversion and Jaro Plaza – Mandurriao routes are the next to follow but he could not tell exactly when yet.
As approved by the LTFRB, the air-conditioned modernized jeepney’s fare rate is P10.20 for the first four kilometers. There is an additional of P1.20 for every succeeding kilometer.
A fare matrix was already released to the jeepney operators, Alido added. They will also use the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) or tap card but while it is not yet available, they will hire a passenger assistance officer to collect fare from passengers./WDJ