KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato has approved the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) Ordinance of the Province of South Cotabato, establishing a framework for regulating and improving public transportation routes across the province.
Through Ordinance No. 58, Series of 2026, enacted under Resolution No. 2026-382 during its regular session, the provincial board formally adopted the province’s five-year LPTRP.
Board Member Sarse C. Atam, Jr. “The ordinance aims to provide adequate, safe, reliable, efficient, and environment-friendly public transportation while supporting transport modernization.”
Based on the ordinance, the approved route plan covers Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) and UV Express units operating within South Cotabato.
It identifies rationalized and new or developmental routes, including connections among Koronadal City, Tantangan, Tupi, Tampakan, Norala, Banga, Sto. Niño, Lake Sebu, T’boli, Surallah, and Polomolok, with corresponding vehicle types and fleet requirements.
The ordinance also provides guidelines for the implementation, monitoring, and updating of the approved routes.
Public transport operators granted a Certificate of Public Convenience through LPTRP are required to comply with transportation laws and regulations, while violations may be subject to sanctions by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The measure was authored by Board Members Sarse C. Atam Jr., Cecile E. Diel, and Nilda B. Almencion, with Board Members Ervin B. Luntao, Ross G. Rosal, and Neil Ryan T. Escobillo as co-authors. The ordinance was subsequently approved by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr.
The adoption of the LPTRP is expected to strengthen the province’s public transport system, support modernization, and provide a more organized and responsive transportation network for commuters and communities across South Cotabato.
