ORMOC CITY-The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is continuing their mandated program like the PUV modernization, anti-colorum campaign, and the return of service contracting called “Libreng Sakay” and fuel subsidy.
LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto, in an exclusive interview, disclosed that these programs are additional functions of their agency whose main role is to issue franchising to all public vehicles.
In fact, he said that last week they were in Baybay City to launch the Peoples Transport Cooperative (PETCO) of which they will launch these modern PUVs that will travel from Ormoc City-Baybay City.
He added that the city government of Baybay like other local governments in the region is very supportive of the PUV modernization program.
Gualberto pointed out that in modern PUVs, the passengers could feel the convenience, safety and most of all very comfortable compared to the likes of multi-cab and traditional jeepneys which are very congested.
He added that aside from convenience and comfortability, the modern PUVs are also equipped with CCTVs and Wi-Fi which is now a must for commuters especially the students so they can review their assignments while in transit.
Gualberto disclosed that to acquire modern PUVs, operators should have a consolidation to come up with a transport corporation or organized into a transport cooperative like PETCO.
He said that organizing into a corporation or a cooperative is one of the requirements to acquire modern PUV as financial institutions like Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines will help finance them to acquire these modern vehicles.
“These financial institutions are just waiting for the transport operators to become a cooperative where they can extend financial support to a very low interest,” Gualberto stressed.
At present, Gualberto disclosed that Eastern Visayas has 407 modern PUVs traversing the local roads.
(ROBERT DEJON)
