After having satisfactorily complied with the set criteria and guidelines for public transport planning, a Special Notice of Compliance (SNOC) was awarded to the municipal governments of Kabayan and Kapangan, Benguet on June 1 and 7, 2022 respectively.
In Kabayan, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Cordillera PUVMP Head Engr. Mervin Kay Abenoja, together with Maristy Oplas, Project Evaluation Officer, personally handed over the SNOC to Kabayan Mayor Basilio Louise Daoal Jr., along with Councilor Mike Badival and Crizelda Sinano, Administrative Aide. Present also in the awarding ceremony are Municipal Planning and Development Office personnel Engr. Benny Sangao Jr. and Judileen Gayaso.
In his message, Abenoja revealed that Kabayan is the second municipality of Benguet, next to Tuba, which received the SNOC for its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
Meanwhile, LTFRB-CAR OIC-Regional Director Engr. Lalaine E. Sobremonte led the team in issuing the SNOC to Kapangan headed by Mayor Manny Fermin.
Fermin expressed his gratitude to the LPTRP working committee in their municipality for their patience in accomplishing their route plan. He, likewise, thanked the LTFRB-CAR for the continuous support and guidance. Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Winston D. Palaez, presented the gist of their LPTRP, explaining the process and efforts they have put into the completion of their route plan.
Sobremonte commended the dedication of the Kapangan municipal government, taking note that instantly after the capacity-building for local governments in 2018, the municipal government immediately convened and started the preparation of their LPTRP, even hiring enumerators to aid their MPDO in the survey of routes despite its being a 4th class municipality.
The event which was facilitated by LTFRB-RPMO CAR staff Engr. Miguel Camil, Ninez Valdez, and Florence Molitas, paved way for Kapangan, as the third municipality of province to be awarded their approved LPTRP.
Pursuant to Joint Memorandum Circular 001 series of 2017 dated 19 June 2017 on the Guidelines on the Preparation ad Issuance of Local Ordinance, Order, Rules and Regulations Concerning the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), Section 4, letter C III, dictates that local governments shall prepare their respective LPTRPs based on and consistent with the manual prescribed in this JMC and submit the same to the LTFRB for review.
As to record, Kabayan is in the ninth spot while Kapangan follows at 10th out of the 83 local governments in the Cordillera region to have their SNOCs. To date, six SNOCs (Special Notice of Compliance) and four NOCs (Notice of Compliance) were already awarded by LTFRB-CAR.
Abenoja and Sobremonte also obliged with a short open forum to address the issues and concerns of the transport groups in Kabayan and Kapangan and to discuss the other programs of LTFRB such as the Fuel Subsidy Program and the Service Contracting Program.