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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez assures public that modern jeepneys will be Pinoy-made

Romualdez assures public that modern jeepneys will be Pinoy-made

Published Jan 26, 2024 07:39 am

At A Glance

  • Speaker Martin Romualdez has told local auto manufacturers on Friday, Jan. 26, that the House of Representatives is committed to tapping Philippine-made jeepneys as part of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

Romualdez Jeep.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (center) poses with representatives of local auto manufacturers after their meeting on Jan. 26, 2024. (Speaker's office).

Speaker Martin Romualdez has told local auto manufacturers on Friday, Jan. 26, that the House of Representatives is committed to tapping Philippine-made jeepneys as part of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

During a meeting with representatives of Sarao and Francisco Motors at Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City, Romualdez expressed the House’s desire to support the manufacturers as they embark on producing modern jeepneys.

“I assure you on behalf of the Congress that you have our full support, ire-review natin tong batas na isinagawa ng nagdaang administration at asahan niyo na si President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., kagaya ng kaniyang ama, very, very proud na may Philippine-made initiatives,” the Speaker said.

(We will review this law implemented by the previous administration and you can expect that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., like his father, is very, very proud to have Philippine-made initiatives.)

“Pipiliin natin yung Philippine-made (We will choose the Philippine-made)”, he stressed. “That is the policy of our President. That is the policy of your Congress. We always want to prioritize Filipinos."

Introduced during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the PUV modernization program seeks to phase out old PUVs that are of substandard quality and replace them with environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Francisco Motors, for their part, explained to Romualdez that they are now working on fully electric jeepneys and soon on hydrogen-hybrid PUVs in compliance with the program.

The jeepney maker insists that while jeepneys will no longer be dependent on diesel, the iconic, colorful aesthetic of the vehicle will be a mainstay.

“It’s part of our culture, it’s part of our identity. Maski foreigners pag pumupunta dito sa Pilipinas, nagpapa-picture sa jeepney (Even foreigners when they come here to the Philippines, they take pictures on the jeepney),” Elmer Francisco of Francisco Motors noted.

Compared to current e-jeepney models ranging from P2 million to P3 million, Francisco said that their jeepneys will only cost P985,000 since all its components are Philippine-made.

Francisco noted that their vehicles can be paid through installment, specifically with payments of P10,000 or P20,000 monthly for a period of three to six years.

“Natutuwa po kaming lahat na andaming mga innovations, maraming developments ang inyong industriya at suportado namin lahat ng initiatives na ito,” said Romualdez.

(We are all happy that your industry has many innovations and many developments and we support all these initiatives.)

“We will move forward in a better direction and I assure you that we are one with you dito sa crusade ninyo (here in your crusade), providing services, jobs, opportunities to Filipinos. All out support kami sa inyo (We support you all out,” the House leader told the manufacturers.

Also present in the meeting are Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd district Rep. David Suarez and Committee on Appropriation Chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

Related Tags

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez PUV Modernization Program Jeepney
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