Modern PUVs, finally

After all, these modern PUVs will offer “state-of-the-art” amenities. And you know what that means? Local commuters can finally leave the post-World War 2 era behind.

I’ve been suffering from LSS lately. To those who don’t know, that stands for “last song syndrome.” In case you’re wondering, the ditty that has been playing through the back of my head in the past few days comes from the Broadway musical, “Hair.”

There’s one particular line in one of the catchy tunes that I find appropriate to what’s about to happen to Metro Cebu’s public transportation industry.

“This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius/Age of Aquarius/Aquarius/Aquarius.”

Don’t ask me what that means because, like the rest of the song, it’s all hippie mumbo jumbo. Yet somehow, it captures that feeling of anticipation and excitement that commuters must feel for the modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) that will soon ply the streets of Cebu City, and, I guess, the rest of the metro.

Or not.

But I think Vigor Mendoza, chairman of Persano Corp., operator of the modern PUVs, hit the nail on the head when he said in Tagalog: “I’m sure commuters are looking forward to a new travel experience.”

To be honest, so am I.

After all, these modern PUVs will offer “stateof-the-art” amenities. And you know what that means? Local commuters can finally leave the post-World War 2 era behind. They’ll be going to and from their destinations in a mode of mass transportation that befits the 21st century.

I mean, aside from being air-conditioned, these future “kings of the road” will also be equipped with a 72-hour dash camera, a speed limiter and a global positioning system. There will also be free WiFi.

Earlier, Mendoza said that these new vehicles are not meant to compete with existing passenger jeepneys. “Gusto lang naming ipasok ‘to para makita ng mga PUJ (public utility jeepney) na may alternatibo. Gusto natin makita ito nga mga PUJ operators na naghihirap na dahil sa kalumaan ng sasakyan na makapagbago ng sasakyan,” he said.

Roughly translated into English, Mendoza said: “We just want to provide an alternative to the PUJ. We want PUJ operators to see this, especially those suffering from having old vehicles.”

Aside from that, Mendoza announced that the drivers of the modern PUVs, who will come from the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative, will receive a fixed income, as mandated by the PUV Modernization Program. Their salary will also be based on the salary of their counterparts in Metro Manila, which means they’ll be earning more than the local minimum wage.

So I guess, it’s not only the commuters who have something to look forward to. Jeepney drivers, too, will have a chance to earn a fixed income under this modernization program.

When it boils down to it, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

“Let the sunshine/let the sunshine in….”