INDIVIDUAL operators in Misamis Oriental who will avail the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program will get financial grant amounting to P70,000 from the provincial government.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano announced this during the launching of the PUV modernization program in the province on Friday, March 6, at the capitol grounds, to encourage individual operators to embrace the new PUV transport system.
“This is our commitment during the first launching of the program in Cagayan de Oro and what we will fulfill what we promised. Let it be an assurance that we in the province together with the board members will help and support the modernization program,” Emano said.
Emano said no drivers or operators will be displaced as he urged them to form their cooperatives and seek assistance from the provincial government.
“I don’t think they will be displaced. What I see is opportunity to upgrade vehicles in the province. And we in the province are very supportive to cooperatives in terms of financial assistance,” he added.
The financial support is on top of the P80,000 subsidy that the national government is giving for those who would avail the modernization program.
Joel Bolano, Technical Division Chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Office, said only the province of Misamis Oriental has the initiative to give additional financial support.
“This is the only place I heard na may additional support from the LGU,” he said.
Under the program, operators may acquire the new vehicles through a loan from partner banks.
“I don’t think they will have a hard time if they avail because the financial assistance will allow them to earn while paying the vehicle,” Emano said.
By June 30, the LTFRB-Northern Mindanao will no longer accept single operator but single juridical entity which means operators must form either a corporation or cooperative.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao director Aminoden Guro urged individual operators to go to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to register their cooperatives.
“Hangyoon nato sila nga moadto sa CDA magparehistro kundili mawala inyo priority role sa inyong franchise sa kada ruta sa province,” Guro said.
Guro said the modern vehicles, which are Euro 4 compliant and environment-friendly, may cost a higher fare due to amenities like dash cam, security camera, Wi-Fi connection. Euro 4 refers to European standards which dictate what is acceptable and what is not in terms of vehicle emissions, according to a Top Gear Philippines article.
Meanwhile, the province of Misamis Oriental has already submitted its Local Public Transport Route Plan (LTPRP) and was forwarded to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for review and evaluation.
Bolano aid the local government units were tasked to make its LTPRP because they have the firs-hand knowledge of their localities.
“The governor already submitted the LTPRP and we target to finish the evaluation before the end of the semester o baka next month na. Binigay natin sa LGUs ang LTPRP dahil mas alam nila ang pangangailangan ng local public transprot kaya sila magbibigay sa atin ilang at anong klaseng units,” Bolano said.