DTI to issue guidelines on PUV modernization

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) has come out with a draft Philippine National Standard (PNS) on public utility vehicles (PUV) under the government’s modernization program.

The draft PNS, targeted to be finalized by September, includes the dimensional standard for PUVs. 

In particular, it specifies dimensional limits for PUVs or vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding five tons.

Also included in the dimensional limits are the vehicle’s overall height, width and length, wheelbase and front and rear overhang, cabin, seat and seat lay out, step board, service door and emergency exit. 

A BPS technical committee composed of various representatives from the academe, industry, consumers’ organization, professional association, research institution, government agencies, and, testing institutions developed the standards concerning compatibility, interchangeability and safety, with particular reference to terminology and test procedures for evaluating the performance of the road vehicles. 

In developing the draft PNS, proposals from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the German government through GIZ, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, the Truck Manufacturers Association, and the Automotive Body Manufacturing Association of the Philippines were considered and accepted. 

The draft PNS is now being circulated to concerned stakeholders after which all comments will be processed and consolidated to finalize the draft PNS and endorse it for approval and promulgation to BPS and the Trade Secretary. 

The DOTr’s PUV modernization program aims to modernize PUVs in the Philippines that will not only decongest the roads but will provide safer, cleaner, healthier and fuel-efficient transport system for Filipino commuters. 

The Duterte administration will initially seek to modernize 220,000 public utility jeepneys  across the country as part of government efforts to provide a safer transport system for commuters while mitigating the effects of climate change.