The Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have agreed to draft a plan to develop the public utility vehicle (PUV) system in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
The technical cooperation project for capacity building among PUV operators will be completed in 2027, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.
The plan ”intends to improve the interim modality of transport systems while enhancing the capacity of road-based public transport operators in terms of fleet products,” Mr. Bautista said.
Once completed, the capacity building plan will include manuals for route planning, management, and evaluation; guidelines for the design of PUV stops and intermodal hubs; and service plans for route planning and training .
The DoTr added that the plan will also address improving facilities and service level monitoring to persuade commuters to rely less on private vehicles.
The program hopes tol strengthen DoTr’s current road projects such as the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) the EDSA Busway, and the d EDSA greenways projects. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
