06/01/2026
This lack of technical preparedness builds on a troubling track record in our region. The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) has been poorly implemented here, with many jeepney operators in Caraga unable to access financial support or clear guidelines, leaving our public transport fleet aging and ill-equipped to serve rural and urban commuters alike. The Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) for the region relies on incorrect data considerations – failing to account for seasonal travel patterns related to agriculture, flooding in low-lying areas, the specific mobility needs of indigenous communities across Agusan Del Norte, and the known risks at accident hotspots along the Maharlika Highway.
Rather than addressing these gaps, the transportation department’s regional enforcement efforts remain focused primarily on apprehensions and penalties – diverting resources from fixing broken road markings, improving intersection design, installing protective barriers in high-risk zones like Sanghan, or expanding safe pathways for non-motorized transport. In Butuan City alone, traffic bottlenecks at key junctions like the Libertad Roundabout and Montilla Boulevard persist, while no data-driven adjustments have been made to accommodate new transport modes or reduce risks on connecting routes to Cabadbaran City.
As Caraga works to boost economic growth and improve quality of life for its residents, the transportation agency’s failure to prioritize evidence-based planning, effective program implementation, and infrastructure tailored to our region’s needs – including critical safety upgrades for accident-prone areas – is a major barrier. We call on the DOTr’s Caraga Regional Office and national leadership to take immediate action – shifting focus from fines to research, modernization, and solutions that will build a safe, efficient, and future-ready transportation system for Agusan Del Norte and the entire Caraga Region.
