(PUV EXHIBIT. At the ceremonial ribbon-cutting rites to the display of PUV prototypes are Manny Camagay, head project management office PUVMP-OTC; Raquel Anzures, senior manager DBP; Ahmed Quizon, regional director LTFRB-III; Eldon Joshua Dionisio, DOTr senior transport development officer; Aaron Jeffrey Montenegro, SMP mall manager; Jeanette Mercado, STSI special projects manager; and Mario Ojales, department head CV dealer sales division. Photos by Bong Lacson)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The “Modern PUV Caravan” made the second stop in its Pampanga leg at SM City Pampanga here Friday bringing with it the message of public transport modernization.
With the theme “Arangkada ng Pagbabago Tungo sa Kaunlaran,” the caravan targets to tour 32 cities until 2020 drumming up the Duterte administration’s biggest transformational initiative — the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). It’s first stop in the province was at SM City Clark on Thursday.
The caravan is a joint undertaking of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), spearheaded by its satellite offices of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, and Office of Transportation Cooperatives, in cooperation with the Development Bank of the Philippines, Landbank of the Philippines, and various sub-industries in the automotive industry.
( New jeepney prototypes)
At the SM City Pampanga event, public transport cooperatives and public utility jeepney associations were oriented on the imperative to modernize public transport, complete with a brief history on the evolution of the jeepney.
Initiatives undertaken by the Duterte administration in the modernization drive were likewise discussed, along with the funding schemes offered to those who would avail of the program.
An open forum between officials of the LTFRB, LTO, and OTC and the transport sector stakeholders followed the lecture-discussions.
PUV prototypes that were “purposely designed” to “promote a safer, cleaner, healthier and fuel-efficient transport system for the Filipino commuters” were on hand at the SM City Pampanga parking lot for the visual appreciation of the transport groups.
