■ OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW AS PUJ MODERNIZATION PROGRAM TAKES EFFECT

Transport operators were reminded that they need to substitute their passenger jeepneys with modern ones if these reach 15 years old. President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to strictly implement the jeepney modernization program, which took effect last Jan. 2. Meanwhile, the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative is expected to operate modern passenger jeepneys before the Sinulog once it gets a probational authority for a diesel Hyundai Coaster that can seat 35 passengers. Its route will be from I.T. Park to Cebu City Hall via Robinsons Galleria and the Ayala Business Park.

The Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco) is expected to operate a modern passenger jeepney before the Sinulog celebration as the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is expected to issue their provisional authority.

Citrasco chairman Benjamin Ryan Yu said that the jeep is a Hyundai Coaster and diesel-fed, which can accommodate 35 passengers.

Yu said its route will be from Cebu IT Park to Cebu City Hall via Robinsons Galleria and Cebu Business Park. The fare will be P15 for the first five kilometers and P1 for each succeeding kilometer.

As this developeds, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon told transport operators in the region that they will have to substitute their passenger jeepneys with modern jeepneys if the former reach 15 years old.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Transportation and LTFRB to strictly implement the jeepney modernization program starting Jan. 2 this year and in the next three years.

Every operator must purchase at least 10 jeepney units.

“On the matter of industry consolidation, all operators are encouraged to form coops, companies, corporations or federations so that they can reach the required 10 units minimum. They must team up with the others so that once consolidated, their new coop, company, corporation or federation will now own the minimum 10 units,” Cuizon said. /