Baguio City, Philippines – With the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), around 87 units of Modern Public Transport are now operating in the region.
According to Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) - Cordillera Director Engr. Lallaine Sobremonte, she said development is in compliance with Department Order No. 2017-011.
The director, as reported by Mt. Province Broadcasting Corporation, informed that from the 87 units, 80 are modernized Public Utility Jeepney and seven are categorized as modernized Utility Vehicle Express.
Said Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) are operating in seven routes: Maba-ay-Tadian, Ambayao-La Tieza, Bontoc-Bauko, Aurora Hill-Plaza, Trancoville-Plaza, BGH-Campo Sioco and Tabuk-Tuguegarao.
Meanwhile, Sobremonte said there are additional units awaiting for their franchises to be approved this December.
Based on their data, there are at least 5,028 authorized PUV units operating in the region. Of the 5,028, only 4,420 or 87.9% applied for consolidation.
Sobremonte said those who failed to apply for consolidations are still given a chance to be consolidated. She said that interested applicants may ask those groups that were already granted consolidation to submit amendments to add more units for them to be included.
In 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) launched the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) with the goal of making the country's public transportation system efficient and environmentally friendly by 2020 and phasing-out jeepneys, buses, and other PUVs that are at least 15 years old and replacing them with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
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