Pushing for modernization. Hino Pampanga executives and PGT Transeco members at the turnover. All photos by BZL
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Here’s one for the government’s public transport modernization program.
The Paniqui Gerona Tarlac Transport Service Cooperative, an affiliate of Pasang Masda, over the weekend came to realize its wish of modernizing its fleet of passenger vehicles, with Hino Pampanga all too happy to indulge them.
Fifteen units of Class II modern jeepneys were turned over by the local dealer of the Japanese truck brand to the cooperative, ready to roll and serve Tarlac’s riding public, in comfort, safety, efficiently.
“Naranasan po kasi natin noon na kapag sumakay ka ng jeep kung puti ang damit mo magiging khaki (brown) na iyan. Ngayon aircon yan, preskong-presko. Kung ano ang itsura mo pagsakay mo pagbaba mo ganon pa rin,” enthused PGT Transeco president Abelardo Miguel Jr. of the modern jeepneys.
The cooperative has 25 members and contracted a bank loan of P29.4 million for the purchase of the modern jeepneys expected to serve thousands of office workers and commuters from Paniqui and Gerona to Tarlac City within their operating hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The airconditioned Hino Class II modern jeepney has a seating capacity of 23 passengers with enough space to observe social distancing as a health and safety protocol amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It also has a CCTV and modern amenities that ensure comfort of passengers.
Expressing “total, unconditional support” to the modernization of the public transport system in the country, Hizon Auto Group EVP and COO Marco Hizon said the Filipino people deserves better public transport.
“We have to face it, we deserve improvements. As we all know, yung ating mga jeepneys ay matagal na ito. Tayong mga Pilipino deserve naman nating mag improve, deserve natin na mas mayroong magandang mode of transportation,” said Hizon.
“Sinimulan na ngayong taon na ito (transport modernization), tuloy tuloy na ito. We are not saying that PUJs are not good but we deserve a better mode of transportation,” he stressed.
“Ang kagandahan ng Hino Motors Philippines, hindi lang siya nagbebenta ng trucks, nagma–manufacture pa sila ng body. Kung may bagong linya naka-coordinate yan sa [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] sapagkat alam nila na kailangan ito ng ating mga kababayan,” Hizon said of the ease his dealership offers.
Hizon expressed confidence there’s no reversing the way to public transport modernization, despite some opposition to it: “Alam mo naman ang isang kaugaliang Pilipino, wait-and-see muna sa anumang bago. Tapos pag nakitang okay naman, sasama na yansa agos ng progreso.”
By way of proof to his confidence, Hizon disclosed that PGT Transeco is the third transport cooperative that took delivery of Hino vehicles. The first two are in Macabebe and Masantol, both in Pampanga.
Aside from Hino, the Hizon Auto Group is also franchisee of Hyundai Motors.
