By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod City government said the three-day simulation exercise (simex) or pilot testing of all approved Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) routes was successful.

“All of the 24 routes have been evaluated,” City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said.

The exercises were held from June 25 to 27 and were spearheaded by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Maghari said 1,099 modernized jeepneys and more than 500 traditional jeepneys with provisional authority have joined the simex.

The city government so far have not received complaints from the stakeholders, particularly the riding public, in the test run, he said.

He added that the city awaits the evaluation report from the LTFRB which will determine if the number of modernized jeepneys is sufficient to accommodate the riding public, and also if there is a need to add another route.

Maghari said the simex will also determine the viability of all LPTRP routes and, if all awarded, public transport can cater to all the riding public.

Moreover, this will validate the exact location of loading and unloading, travel and terminal dwell time through SafeTravelPH mobile application.

He said that aside from the awarded modernized jeepneys, traditional jeepneys are also encouraged to take part in the said simulation exercise./MS, WDJ