In order to strengthening its support for the government’s PUV modernization program, the Department of Transportation and (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) launched a nationwide Caravan dubbed ‘Pagbabago Tungo sa Kaunlaran,’ last July 4, 2019. The event was conceived to showcase the many examples of modern PUVs which aim to upgrade the conventional jeepney.
“The caravan launch today is a strong manifestation of the collaborative effort of private and public partners in the implementation of the PUV Modernization Program. We intend to push this program as far and as fast as possible, and that won’t happen without the support of all the stakeholders,” said LTFRB chairman, Martin Delgra III, during his speech.
The Caravan launch at SM Clark Pampanga coincided with the simultaneous nationwide launching of the LTFRB of the new routes for the modern PUV. The schedule will be broken down into four phases and covers the period of July 2019 to January 2020.
Foton Philippines will showcase its modern PUV entry, the F-Jeepney, throughout the various legs of the caravan. This Cummins Euro 4-powered vehicle is designed to comply with the guidelines set by the Philippine National Standards.
“Foton Philippines understands the importance of being able to move a large number of people reliably, safely, as well as with care for the environment. And from this, we see the role of the F-Jeepney as a workhorse and multi-functional partner for the growing number of PUV operators in the country,” said Rommel Sytin, president of Foton Philippines.
The F-Jeepney sports 21st century additions such as GPS navigation software, a CCTV camera, dash-cam, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an entertainment system. The Beep electronic payment card is also integrated into the vehicle’s payment scheme, truly modernizing almost all aspects of this version of public transport. Seating is also important, and the F-Jeepney is kitted out with stainless fixed bench seats that can hold up to 24 passengers, with 16 sitting down and eight standing up.
Since it was launched this year, Foton has already turned over its modern PUVs to transport cooperatives in provinces like Cainta, Rizal, and Pampanga.
The Modern PUV units in the Caravan are equipped with the required gadgets such as the automated fare collection system and are exhibited nationwide for one day each in some 32 cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“It’s time to make a step forward with our entries for the PUV modernization. The F-Jeepney will not just provide a comfortable riding experience for the commuters. We also aim to promote the capabilities of the national icon of Philippine transportation,” said Sytin.