TACLOBAN CITY- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (TFRB) in Region 8 in coordination with the City Government of Tacloban joined the nationwide simultaneous launching of the government’s “One Time, Big Time” PUJ Modernization Program held at the city hall grounds on July 11 in this city.
With the theme, “LTFRB and the NATION: One Direction towards PUJ Modernization,” some 35 public utility jeepneys were launched to ply the routes Tacloban – V & G areas and vice versa, and Robinson’s Mall in Marasbaras to Robinson’s North in Abucay, both in Tacloban City, and vice versa.
LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto in his message said, “As modernization is one of the flagship programs of the President which envisions a modern, well-managed and environmentally- sustainable transport sector, Region 8 is on the right track. We are one with the nation’s vision of providing the riding public with safe and comfortable transport vehicles.”
The jeepneys are solar-powered with spacious and comfortable seats. They are equipped with modern facilities to include Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), Global Positioning System or GPS, Wifi, CCTVs and ceiling fans to ensure safety and comfort of the commuters.
Said vehicles that have adopted the Israeli and Australian technologies and supplied by Star 8, are not the first in Tacloban City.
In 2017, some 45 E-jeepney units were launched in the city which were followed by another 15 in 2018, with different transport destinations.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez expressed his gratitude to LTFRB and other stakeholders in bringing the technology to the city.
“I welcome this new technology. This is now part of the lives of the Taclobanons. This is practical and affordable and will give convenience as well as job opportunities to the people,” Mayor Romualdez said.
“Convenience is a priority in Tacloban because of the heavy traffic we are having now, which costs a lot of money, causes delay and discourages investors. Considering the big population in the city and it being the regional center with major universities and colleges, it is really important to provide convenience and mobility to the people so they could make the best of their transactions,” he added.
Relative to the formal launching, a motorcade around the city was conducted to make Taclobanons fully aware of the presence of the new vehicles. A one-day drivers’ training will likewise be held to further orient them on the new technology and inculcate in them the proper behavior in dealing with the riding public.
(LDL/GTT/PIA-8, Leyte)
