Modern Jeepneys to Ply Star City/CCP-PITX Route Starting Today, June 18

A total of 15 modern jeepneys of the Senate Employees Transport Cooperative (SETSCO) will begin plying the Star City-Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) route with stops at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)-Senate and SM Mall of Asia (MOA) complex starting today, Monday, June 18. SETSCO, which consists of 22 jeepney drivers and operators, was among the three transport cooperatives that were pre-selected by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to participate in the initial implementation of the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). According to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, the initiative is a manifestation that transport leaders are realizing the need for a modern, environment-friendly and affordable public transport system in the country. "We can really implement this. We are supporting cooperatives as long as they have complete documents and have set proper routes. They are our partners in implementing the PUVMP. They will benefit from this in the end," Delgra said in a statement. The LTFRB has granted subsidies last year for an initial 250 units of the SETSCO, 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 Department of Transportation (DOTr) is providing a subsidy of PHP80,000 for each driver and operator that will comply with the PUVMP covering the five percent equity of the loan from the Landbank of the Philippines payable within seven years at an interest rate of six percent. The department earlier said that the initial batch of modern jeepneys will be rolled out starting this month in various parts of Metro Manila. Among the routes include Quezon City Hall, along Elliptical Road, Diliman to Manila City Hall, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay to Southwest Intermodal Transport exchange in Parañaque City, Fort Bonifacio Gate 3 in Taguig City to Guadalupe Market in Makati and Bagumbayan in Taguig to Pasig City. The PUVMP will replace jeepney units that are 15 years old with either Euro 4-compliant engines or electrically-powered motors 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.