City Council approves modern PUV deployment

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuanos will soon see the 40 modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying the Cebu City streets following the approval of its travel line by the Cebu City Council.

During the council’s special session yesterday, the members approved the resolution that Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. has sponsored.  The resolution details the routes for the modern PUVs.

This, after Gabuya assured the council that existing jeepneys will not be affected with the deployment of the Persano units.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the council’s public order and safety committee, informed other legislators that the 40 PUVs will be plying the identified missionary routes.

Missionary routes are the areas that were not utilized by old jeepneys.

“Last week I had a meeting with CCTO (Cebu City Transportation Office) to discuss the travel lines. In regards with the routes, dili maapektohan ang mga jeep kay this is not part of the original travel lines of PUJs,” Tumulak said.

There are two travel lines for the 40 PUVs.

Route 1 is from Cebu City Hall to Cebu I.T. Park, passing through Robinson’s Galleria Cebu, Cebu Business Park and vice versa.

Route 2 is from R. Duterte Street to Sykes via Happy Valley, Fuente Osmeña, Ramos Street, D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu Business Park and vice versa.

There are at least 20 units assigned for every route.

Approval from the city council is needed before Persano Corp. can fully operate the modern vehicles. It was earlier this month that the firm submitted the identified routes to Gabuya.

But before it was presented to the council, CCTO has reviewed and evaluated the travel lines.

“Actually, they can start, naghuwat lang gyud sila og approval sa city council. Karon nga gi-approved na, they can officially start,” Gabuya said.

With the recent development, lawyer Vigor Mendoza, chairman of Persano Corp., is thankful that the council has approved the travel lines.

But he could not give specific date when these units will be operational because they are waiting for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to approve the proposed fare which is P8 and an additional of P1 for every succeeding kilometer.

“Definitely (before the year ends). We just need LTFRB approval on the fares, then we are a go,” Mendoza told The FREEMAN.

Once these units will be operational, CCTO will monitor them for evaluation and for possible adjustments.

The operation of these 40 units of PUVs is in accordance with the program of the national government modernizing the old jeepneys.

These PUVs have Global Positioning System (GPS), wi-fi connection, curb side door, automatic fare system, dashboard cameras, and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. — GAN (FREEMAN)