PUV MODERNIZATION. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III (3rd from left) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the ‘One Road One Nation’ Towards PUV Modernization launch program at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Also in the photo are LTFRB-NCR Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo (2nd from left), TRB spokesperson Alberto Suansing (3rd from right) and LTFRB Board Member Ronaldo Corpus (2nd from right). (PNA photo by Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)
MANILA -- The government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program is aimed at addressing issues hounding the country's transport sector.
This, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising Board (LTFRB) on Thursday launched modern PUVs, which will be rolled out in several areas nationwide.
Dubbed as the ‘One Road One Nation’ Towards PUV Modernization' program, LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra III said the modernization of PUVs is touted as the largest non-infrastructure project of the Duterte administration.
All modern PUVs, including jeepneys, buses, and taxis presented during the program were Euro 4-compliant, a standard set by the European Union (EU) in 2005 that define the limits for exhaust emissions.
“Not only are we going to provide safe and reliable transportation, they are environment-friendly too,” Delgra told reporters a the launch of the program in the National Capital Region (NCR) in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Aside from its environmental aspect, Toll Regulatory Board spokesperson and former LTFRB chair Alberto Suansing said the modernization program aims to provide better opportunities to those in the sector.
“Hindi natin aalisan ng hanapbuhay kundi aayusin pa natin ang hanapbuhay nila (We won’t take away their livelihood and will improve it instead),” Suansing said.
Suansing enumerated some improvements brought by the modernization program, which include the organization of operators and drivers into cooperatives that will allow a more organized and consistent dispatching of PUVs.
“Sa isang ruta, meron oras na nagsisiksikan sila. Meron naman oras na wala kang makikita na sasakyan, madalang yung sasakyan. Ibig sabihin natin niyan, inaayos natin yung frequency nung serbisyo. Para maging reliable sila (In one route, they are congested. And then there are some hours when you won't see any vehicle or there are only a few. What we are saying is we want to make sure the frequency of the service. For them to be reliable,” Suansing said.
He said the modernization program also promotes road safety as it aims to eliminate reckless driving among PUV drivers caused by the “boundary” system.
“Pati yung compensation nila masasa-ayos pa. Hindi yung nagka-karera sila sa kalsada, nag-uunahan sa pasahero (Their compensation will also be fixed. They should not be racing against each other in the streets in order to get passengers),” Suansing said.
For those unable to transition into driving or operating modern PUVs, the DOTr partnered with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide skills training for the transition of drivers and operators into a different livelihood.
“Nandiyan yung TESDA para mag-retooling. Kahit na medyo may katandaan na sila, ma-introduce sa kanila ang panibagong hanapbuhay (TESDA is there to conduct re-tooling. Even if some of them are already old, they will still be introduced to a new means of livelihood),” Suansing said.
Officials from the DOTr, LTFRB and the local government of Muntinlupa also awarded certificates of provisional authority to private corporations and cooperatives, allowing for the operation of modern PUVs nationwide. (PNA)
