Filipino-owned body Centro Manufacturing Corp., local truck body builder, said it would highlight a “Pinoy Jeepney” concept vehicle that would retain the features of the iconic “Hari ng Kalsada” amid strong sentiment for the iconic features of the traditional mass transport in the country.
Centro Vice-President Rommel Juan said they have designed a new modern “Pinoy Jeepney” concept that will be presented in the “Byaheng Centro” booth during the 8th Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay from Sept. 15-18.
“The Pinoy Jeepney concept will bring back the traditional look of the old ‘Hari ng Kalsada’,” said Juan.
Juan said that Centro is the only truck body builder that retains the iconic Philippine utility jeepney (PUJ) features as he noted of the sentiment among operators, drivers and commuters that the modern jeepneys being offered in the market are devoid of the iconic traditional ‘Hari ng Kalsada’.
“The Biyaheng Centro booth will showcase the modern Philippine utility vehicle (PUV) design that embodies the spirit of the Pinoy Jeepney during its heyday in the 1970s and the 1980s,” said Juan. From the graphics, colors to the iconic egg fenders and the horses, Juan said, its concept vehicle captures the elements that made the “Hari ng Kalsada” a true Filipino icon.
“That made the PUJs the backbone of the country’s mass transport system then. For the modern PUV version, see the beautiful fusion of the old and the new as it attempts to bring back the modern PUV as the new Hari ng Kalsada,” he said.
The modern PUV, however, had done away with the long hood because it is no longer efficient, but equipped with brand new engines from various brands.
Per Department of Transportation, there were 172,774 PUJs registered and 22,938 utility vehicles in 2020. There are still a total of 195,712 units up for replacements.
Juan said that while commuters love the modern PUVs introduced under the government’s PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), Filipinos still long for the iconic features of the old, traditional PUJs that they have developed an affinity for, such as the colorful body, the egg-shaped fenders and yes, the horses.
The Filipino Jeepney has evolved through time. It started in post war 1945 when numerous Willys military jeeps were left behind by the Americans. The Filipinos, the creative race that they are, lost no time in converting this into a public transport by adding bench seats at the rear and called it the auto calesa. The evolution was accelerated with the entry of Sarao and Francisco Motors who mass produced them using whatever Japanese surplus engines and parts were available then.
Under the PUVMP, which was crafted in 2017, the modern PUV will be based on guidelines and standards issued by the government.
The modern PUV is 100 percent brand new using a light truck platform but unfortunately, without a hood. It is airconditioned and has a large GVW of 5,000 kilograms that is enough to handle 23 passengers or even more if standing is allowed. The body is locally manufactured and its seats, legroom, head clearances, aisles, doors and windows are spacious and compliant to international standards.
The modern PUV gained wide acceptance because it is safe, economical, convenient and spacious and with airconditioning to boot.
Very affordable financing is also available through the Development Bank of the Philippines and Landbank with a government subsidy of P160,000 to cover the 5 percent downpayment.
The PUVMP is expected to be accelerated with the expansion of the financing program to include commercial banks and the increase in government subsidy to up to P360,000, he said.
Centro has been at the forefront in the development of the modern PUVs as it has supported the government’s PUVMP from the very start, developing modern PUV bodies for almost all light truck platforms locally available.