The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board National Capital Region (LTFRB-NCR) launched over the week new modernized UV Express units as part of the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The 19 class 3 modern UV Express units will ply the SM Fairview-Buendia Avenue route through a provisional authority awarded by the LTFRB to 997 Sandigan Transport Cooperative (TSC) on October 28.

The new UV Express units, which are part of the cooperative's support to the PUVMP, are equipped with Euro-4 engines and accessories such as dashcams, CCTV, speed limiters, automatic fare collection system, and WiFi connection.

"Taos puso po kaming nagpapasalamat sa LTFRB, lalo na kay Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra at LTFRB NCR Regional Director Atty. Zona Tamayo. Tuloy-tuloy ang aming suporta sa PUVMP ng ating gobyerno, at patutunayan namin na kami ay handa na manilbihan sa bayan," Ferdinand Lupangsoy, chairman of the 997 Sandigan TSC, said during the launching ceremony.

(We sincerely thank the LTFRB, especially LTFRB Chairman Delgra and LTFRB NCR Regional Director Tamayo. We will continue to support the government's PUVMP, and we will prove that we are ready to serve the people.)

The PUVMP is the flagship transport project of the administration through the DOTr in a bid to make public transportation in the country safer and more comfortable, and to lessen the environmental pollution brought about by worn-out and smoke-belching PUVs.

Various transports groups have been opposing the PUVMP which they tagged as an "anti-poor and anti-commuter" program.

However, the DOTr and the LTFRB said that it will continue to push through with its implementation even during the current pandemic "to achieve the greater good for the public land transportation system."