Last Wednesday’s launching of the Passenger Jeepney Modernization program by the Regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) should hopefully be the start not only for comfortable and convenient travel for commuters but a rationalization of the jeepney routes in Metro Cebu.
Based on what had been unveiled and disclosed during the program launching in Plaza Sugbo, most of the electric or solar powered jeepneys will service those traveling the IT Park/business process outsourcing (BPO) company routes, also known as “missionary routes.”
In fact LTFRB Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon, who has ties to Cebu City Hall, mentioned that the jeepneys will service mostly BPO personnel who find it hard to commute from their homes to their workplaces.
It’s an added bonus for operators of these soon-to-be available e-jeepneys to service commuters who happen to be heading to or at least near these destinations that BPO agents/employees are working and dining in.
These initial 40 units will be operated by the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco) who stood by and will make good on their promise to acquire better jeepney units in compliance with the government’s push to modernize the country’s mass transport system.
Aside from air conditioning, an automated fare collection system and other features, Cuizon said under the program these e-jeepneys will be driven by those who will receive fixed salaries which will hopefully translate to minimal traffic violations.
Based on initial impressions, the program and the showcase of the e-jeepneys look promising. But until these units roll out and are actually seen in action, their potential and serviceability in Metro Cebu remains to be seen.
We hope that the drivers of these units will pick up passengers only at designated stops and not have to pick up passengers in the most ungodly and traffic heavy areas.
That is one of the most contentious points for operating a jeepney since drivers are prone to pick up passengers at non-designated areas which aggravate the already terrible traffic congestion.
Other than that, it is sincerely hoped that this Passenger Jeepney Modernization program will succeed for the sake of everyone concerned. For the commuter, it is a convenient, comfortable means of mass transportation that, while costing more, is cheaper than riding a taxi or any transport service network vehicle whose services are already in high demand in the first place.
For the operators and drivers, it is their way of luring and giving back their customers who had long deserved to ride more comfortably, conveniently and safely to and from their offices and schools.
For the government, it is one of many steps to ease the traffic burden on the public and give them more time to build the infrastructure needed to resolve that perennial traffic problem.
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