EDITORIAL - PUV modernization

In what Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino described as the start of the golden age of Cebu’s transportation system, nearly 300 modern public utility vehicles have started plying the streets of Cebu following the granting of the provisional authority by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas.

The program – whose units are composed of modern buses, taxicabs, and electronic jeepneys – was part of the "Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program” that the Duterte administration launched recently.

The new buses, according to LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr., serve routes from Cebu City to Sibonga, Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City, and Cebu City to Danao City, while 25 e-jeeps operate within Lapu-Lapu City. Additional units will arrive within the year.

With a capacity of 30 passengers per unit, e-jeepneys have free wi-fi, charging ports, fan cooling system, cushion seats, and dash cams. The new buses and taxi units sport an automatic fare collection system, wi-fi, dash cam, speed limiter, and a GPS tracker. Some buses even have a comfort room.

This is certainly a piece of good news. Cebu, especially because Metro Cebu, has long been in need of a modern mass transportation system to boost its image as the country’s economic center outside Metro Manila.

However, as the government moves for the immediate modernization of Cebu’s transportation system, it should also prioritize road infrastructure development. It cannot be denied that Metro Cebu has an outdated road network system, the reason why it is presently suffering from serious traffic problems.

With its narrow streets already crowded, there’s really an urgent need for Metro Cebu to improve its road infrastructure system. We need more roads, underpasses, subways, skyways, and tunnels, among others, to cater to the rising volume of vehicles.

Although it is good that the government is embarking on PUV modernization, building an efficient road system is still equally important since such is very vital to economic growth.