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Advocates Philippines
OTC: Livelihood For PUV Operators Through Cooperatives
FILE
The Office for Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) assured Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers that they can still be active participants in transport cooperatives while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) circular allowing unconsolidated Transport Service Entities (TSEs) takes effect on January 31. OTC Chairman Andy Ortega emphasized that both drivers and operators can join cooperatives, ensuring continued livelihood opportunities.
Ortega clarified during a joint briefing with LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and LTFRB NCR Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo that operators, who were the decision-makers in choosing not to consolidate, can now apply and become drivers within transport cooperatives. This development comes as a response to the need for both drivers and operators to secure employment amid the evolving landscape of the PUV sector.
Transport cooperatives have played a significant role in the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), with at least 65 groups joining the initiative by November 2023. The number surged to 105 groups in December 2023, surpassing the consolidation deadline. Ortega highlighted the positive outcomes for those who chose to consolidate, expressing their satisfaction with the decision to form cooperatives and participate in the program.
DOTr Launches Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP)
Simultaneously, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to implement the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP), a bus-based public transportation system for Davao City. Distinct from the PUVMP, the DPTMP, also known as DavaoBus, aims to establish dedicated bus lanes, depots, and terminals covering a route network of over 600 kilometers.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the DavaoBus Project involves the deployment of modern buses compliant with PUVMP standards. Encompassing nine routes connecting key areas in Davao City, Panabo City, and Davao del Norte, the 672-kilometer project aims to create an intelligent transport system, integrating environment-friendly buses and modernized PUVs. The initiative will operate with standardized procedures, reliable bus schedules, and an overarching goal of enhancing public transportation services in the region.
The DavaoBus Project emerges as an expanded version of the successful EDSA Busway, setting the stage for an efficient public transportation system in Davao City.
Ortega clarified during a joint briefing with LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and LTFRB NCR Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo that operators, who were the decision-makers in choosing not to consolidate, can now apply and become drivers within transport cooperatives. This development comes as a response to the need for both drivers and operators to secure employment amid the evolving landscape of the PUV sector.
Transport cooperatives have played a significant role in the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), with at least 65 groups joining the initiative by November 2023. The number surged to 105 groups in December 2023, surpassing the consolidation deadline. Ortega highlighted the positive outcomes for those who chose to consolidate, expressing their satisfaction with the decision to form cooperatives and participate in the program.
DOTr Launches Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP)
Simultaneously, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to implement the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP), a bus-based public transportation system for Davao City. Distinct from the PUVMP, the DPTMP, also known as DavaoBus, aims to establish dedicated bus lanes, depots, and terminals covering a route network of over 600 kilometers.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the DavaoBus Project involves the deployment of modern buses compliant with PUVMP standards. Encompassing nine routes connecting key areas in Davao City, Panabo City, and Davao del Norte, the 672-kilometer project aims to create an intelligent transport system, integrating environment-friendly buses and modernized PUVs. The initiative will operate with standardized procedures, reliable bus schedules, and an overarching goal of enhancing public transportation services in the region.
The DavaoBus Project emerges as an expanded version of the successful EDSA Busway, setting the stage for an efficient public transportation system in Davao City.
Jan 19, 2024
