The student team conducted LPTRP workshop as part of the focus group discussion
SAN GABRIEL, LA UNION — In a significant step toward modernizing rural mobility, the Municipal Government of San Gabriel, La Union has successfully collaborated with student planners from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) to update its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
Part of the Pamayanan Urban Planning Studio under the UPOU’s Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) program, the project aims to solve long-standing mobility challenges in a town where 12 of its 15 barangays are located in rugged upland areas. Under the guidance of Faculty-in-Charge (FIC) EnP Remsce A. Pasahol, EnP Beverly M. Abad, and EnP Christian Alexis M. Yanga (main FIC), the student planners immersed themselves in San Gabriel’s landscape to create a plan aligned with the national government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“The partnership with UPOU has been instrumental in addressing complex planning requirements,” said San Gabriel Mayor Lany B. Carbonell. The Mayor also added that the LPTRP serves as a strategic roadmap for improving mobility, supporting economic activities, and ensuring the municipality’s transport system remains inclusive and sustainable.
San Gabriel aims to transform into a premier agro-tourism and highland vegetable hub by 2032. Efficient transport is considered the backbone of this vision, connecting isolated mountain communities to the town center and the provincial capital.
The student team comprised DLUP students Christianly Albis, Emily Aquiro, Sheena Aragon, Rogelio Cagurangan, Joseph Cajote, Joanne Cortez, Venus Laoad, Mark Nathaniel Lumanog, Gerardo Manalo Jr., and Mariedette Saclayan.
The planning process integrated technical analysis with participatory engagement to ensure both regulatory compliance and local applicability. The student team conducted focus group discussions with LGU officials, barangay representatives, and transport sector stakeholders to surface on-the-ground issues and validate proposed interventions.
These were complemented by ocular inspections and route validation visits across barangays, allowing direct assessment of terrain conditions, existing service coverage, and operational constraints.
Interviews with tricycle operators and transport associations provided sector-level insights on route demand, operating practices, and mobility gaps, while a systematic review and consolidation of available transport data and land use information established the technical basis of the plan. Based on these inputs, the team prepared updated route maps, technical documentation, and supporting materials required for evaluation by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Collectively, these activities enabled the identification of service gaps, clarification of administrative and barangay boundaries, and validation of proposed routes based on actual travel patterns and physical conditions.
While additional intra-municipal routes are not yet feasible, the team recommended establishing an inter-LGU route from the City of San Fernando to Tangadan Falls via Barangay Bucao, San Gabriel. This proposed route is expected to enhance tourism in the municipality and improve public transport access to underserved communities, particularly those along the corridor leading to the world-renowned Tangadan Falls.
The team noted that the project allowed them to apply academic theory to a real-world context. “The municipality benefits from systematic analysis and evidence-based recommendations, which is the essence of public service extension work,” the group stated.
Beyond local efficiency, the initiative also establishes San Gabriel on the map of global sustainability. The proposed LPTRP directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities by providing safe and affordable transport and SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through resilient rural connections.
On July 29, 2026, LTFRB Region 1 awarded the Municipal Government of San Gabriel a Special Notice of Compliance for the LGU’s LPTRP.
Contributors: Mariedette Saclayan, Christianly Albis, Emily Aquiro, Sheena Aragon, Rogelio Cagurangan, Joseph Cajote, Joanne Cortez, Venus Laoad, Mark Nathaniel Lumanog, and Gerardo Manalo Jr.: • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz
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