MANILA — Modern jeepneys that are compliant with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) will charge a minimum fare of PHP10, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.
A total of 15 out of 35 modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) under the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative (SETSCO) started plying the routes of Star City-Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)-Senate to Mall of Asia (MOA) to Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and back.
The LTFRB said the air-conditioned jeepneys will impose a fare of PHP10 for the first four kilometers and PHP2 for the succeeding kilometers.
Students, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20-percent fare discount.
“The determination of the fare shall be set by the Board pursuant to its mandate. No fare adjustment shall be implemented without prior approval of the Board,” the LTFRB said in its order released to the media late Monday.
SETCO, which consists of 22 jeepney drivers and operators headed by its chairperson, Remedios Ventura, was among the three transport cooperatives that were allowed by the LTFRB to participate in the initial implementation of the PUVMP.
The pre-selection was made by the Office of the Transport Cooperative, whose recommendation was based on the cooperative’s good standing, financial capability, and its established management structure.
The remaining 20 modern PUJs for the given Pasay routes are targeted to be out by July.
The DOTr and the LTFRB are also processing the applications of more than 1,000 new jeepneys. Around 100 to 200 more are expected to be on the road by the first half of July 2018.
The LTFRB has granted subsidies last year for an initial 250 units of the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative, Inc., plying the Senate-PICC route; the Taguig Transport Service Cooperative plying the Taguig City-Pasig City route; and the Pateros-Fort Bonifacio Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative plying the Pateros-Fort Bonifacio route.
The DOTr is providing a subsidy of PHP80,000 for each driver and operator, who will comply with the PUVMP, covering the 5 percent equity of the loan from the Landbank of the Philippines payable within seven years at an interest rate of 6 percent.
The PUVMP seeks to entirely change the public land transportation industry and to provide a modern and environmentally-safe mode of transportation, wherein drivers and operators have sufficient livelihood while ensuring safe and comfortable commuter experience to the riding public.
The program will replace jeepney units that are 15 years old with Euro 4-compliant engines or electrically-powered engines with solar panels for roofs. These modern PUVs will also be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, a GPS navigation system, an Automatic Fare Collection System, speed limiters, dashboard cameras, and Wi-Fi. (Aerol John Pateña with reports from Coleen May Abante -OJT/PNA)
