𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀-𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 attended the 𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗣 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 organized by the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 (𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗣) with the theme “𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏” on April 27, 2023, which brought together national and local government officials, transport experts, technology providers, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to discuss and find solutions to the challenges faced in delivering safe, efficient, and accessible public transport systems.

The event featured a keynote address by Undersecretary Marlo Iringan of the Department of Interior and Local Government, as well as a message of support from Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation. The ULAP Convergence Series also included four case studies presented by Move Metro Manila on the Province of Quirino, Ilagan City, Isabela, Quezon City, and Sakay.PH. The case studies presented the current situation on local public transport and highlighted the importance of service contracting in ensuring that even underserved communities have access to reliable public transportation as well as how local governments can work together with transport companies to improve the quality and accessibility of public transport. There was also a panel discussion of these studies with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Secretary-General Atty. Mayor Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes of the Municipality of Barcelona Sorsogon, Mr. Robert Siy, Transport Expert and Convener of the Move As One Coalition, and Engr. Riza Marie Paches, Board Member of the LTFRB.

The ULAP Convergence Series aims to inspire and motivate all stakeholders to work together towards developing efficient, reliable, and sustainable public transport systems for local communities, in line with the Philippine Development Plan. The insights and knowledge shared during the event will serve as a foundation for future collaborations and initiatives toward this goal.