THE first fleet of modern public utility vehicles (MPUV) in Davao Region was launched at Digos City, Davao del Sur on June 27, 2022.
The launching, led by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Davao Region (LTFRB-Davao), is part of the national government’s project Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The first fleet is composed of seven, brand new MPUV. Five of them will be operated by RB Transport Services Corporation (RB TRANSCO) and ply the routes of Brgy. Sinawilan to Central Terminal (New Business Center) via Super Highway (Loop); and Central Business District (CBD) to Aplaya Bus Terminal (Loop) via Brgy. Tres de Mayo in Digos City.
The remaining two are from the Mindanao Transport Service Cooperative (MINTRANSCO) for Davao del Sur routes namely Zone III, Digos City to Inawayan, Sta. Cruz Route & vice versa; and Zone III, Digos City to Upper Bala, Magsaysay Route and vice versa.
“The modernization started all the way back in 2017 and today, June 27, 2022 – three days, before he will step down as President of the country, his adopted hometown, was able to realize, on its first step, the modernization vision,” said LTFRB-Davao Regional Director Nonito Llanos III during the launching ceremony.
The RB Transco units are classified as Class 2 Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) while the Mintransco units are Class 3 PUJ.
More modern PUV units are expected to be in service in the near future as the PUVMP in Davao del Sur and Digos City have a total of ten routes with varying number of units allowed to ply.
Aside from RB TRANSCO and MINTRANSCO, other operators including Dipatransco, Dasutransco, Makibamag, and Katco were awarded with a Notice of Selection last May 6.
According to Tessa Piansay of LTFRB-Davao, the respective local government units involved, including Digos City, were able to submit the required documents and a Local Public Transport Route Planning (LPTRP) proposal on time which were then approved by LTFRB-Davao.
Thus, the province is the first to launch a new fleet under the PUVMP and other LGUs and provinces are expected to follow suit once their proposals have been approved. ICM