Coop to help address shortage of PUVs

CEBU, Philippines —  An additional 200 modernized jeepneys will be deployed by Cebu People’s Multi-purpose Cooperative before the year ends to help address the shortage of public transportation in Metro Cebu.

Macario Quevedo, former CPMPC CEO and spokesperson of People’s Jeep, said the additional modern jeepney units will serve the routes in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Naga as well as in Liloan town.

The cooperative is currently operating 190 units of modern jeepneys in Metro Cebu.

The MPUJ is part of Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation which envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector in which public transport drivers and operators have stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably.

The PUVMP also seeks to provide safer, more comfortable and environmentally sustainable mode of public transport to commuters by upgrading vehicles to meet international safety, energy efficiency and emission standards.

the components of the PUV modernization program are fleet modernization through low carbon, low emission vehicle technology and imposition of standards to ensure passenger safety and carbon emission level compliance in order to improve ambient air quality and proper fleet management and maintenance.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has projected that there will be more than 4,000 units of modern jeepneys to ply in Cebu Province and in the highly urbanized cities this year.

To date, there are around 1,400 units of MPUJs operating in Cebu. — FPL (FREEMAN)