LAPU-LAPU City is the third local government unit (LGU) in Central Visayas to have its own Local Public Transportation Route Plan (LPTRP).This after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB) announced that it had approved Lapu-Lapu City’s LPTRP on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.Retired Col. Eduardo Montealto Jr., LTFRB 7 director, told SunStar Cebu that the goal of the LPTRP is to create an equilibrium between the demand for public transport and the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying the city’s roads.Montealto said the LPTRP was able to identify underserved and overserved routes in the city.An underserved route means that there are many commuters but there is a shortage of PUVs and an overserved route is the opposite.In the study conducted by the Lapu-Lapu City government, five existing routes have been identified in the LPTRP.Montealto said the LPTRP will designate how many PUVs can operate on that specific route based on passenger demand.The identified routes and their corresponding number of PUVs: Mactan Marina Wharf to Airport and vice versa will have 9 PUVs; MEZ 1 to MEZ 2 will have 13 PUVs; Old Lapu-Lapu Terminal to Marigondon Crossing – Clockwise will have 69 PUVs; Lapu-Lapu Terminal to Marigondon Crossing – Counter Clockwise will have 83 PUVs; and Punta Engaño to Poblacion will have 38 PUVs.The city’s LPTRP also identified three new or developmental routes that can be deployed with PUVs.Montealto said the City will need to have its LPTRP approved before the Lapu-Lapu City Council in order for it to be fully implemented.The LPTRP shall be updated at least once every three years, he said.Montealto said Mandaue City was the first LGU whose LPTRP was granted a notice of compliance by the LTFRB.The municipality of Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City’s next-door neighbor, is also expected to receive a special notice of compliance on Wednesday, March 9, said Montealto.