BY NEXT month, modernized public utility vehicles (PUVs) will start plying Lapu-Lapu City’s streets.

Mayor Paz Radaza announced that the first batch of electronic jeepneys (e-jeepneys) and electronic tricycles (e-trike) will start operating in February, almost two months after the original schedule.

The modern jeepneys and tricycles were supposed to start operating last December, but the cooperative handling the operations had yet to secure the required documents from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

The United Drivers and Operators Transport Cooperative (Udotco) was authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to operate the modern jeepneys and tricycles.

“The operator already secured the papers from the CDA and this morning, they sought endorsement from us. Any time they will start operating. The manufacturer has been informed that we already gave our endorsement,” Radaza said in a press conference on Friday, January 4.

Radaza said that an initial 100 e-jeepneys and e-trikes will transport passengers in the city this year.

With the PUVs, she said they expect fewer tricycles to enter the Mactan Circumferential Road. The tricycles are often blamed for traffic incidents within the city’s main thoroughfare.

Radaza said there are still tricycles plying the Mactan Circumferential Road route, particularly in Barangays Maribago and Marigondon, even though it violates the City’s traffic laws.

The introduction of e-jeep-neys and e-trikes in Lapu-Lapu City is part of the National Government’s PUV modernization program, a priority of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. (GCM of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)