THE government has started deploying solar-powered jeeps offering free rides to accommodate students and workers affected by the continuous drive against dilapidated public utility vehicles in the metropolis.
More than 10,000 passengers have so far been provided with free rides since the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) implemented the campaign dubbed as “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” in Jan. 8.
The Metro Manila Development Authority initially deployed military trucks and buses to assist stranded commuters.
But on Thursday, I-ACT Task Force Alamid sent 10 solar-powered jeeps during an operation in the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus in Quezon City. The jeep can accommodate at least 15 passengers.
In its first month, the I-ACT team apprehended and issued citation tickets and summons to more than 1,500 violators and impounded 80 PUVs for smoke belching and for not able to present valid franchise.
During the operation, the I-ACT team also brought a mobile smoke emission testing equipment to determine the compliance of vehicles to the regulations under the Republic Act 8749.
The group is operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Laguna and Pampanga.
The campaign, according to I-ACT chief Thomas Orbos, is in line with the government’s implementation of the PUV modernization program nationwide.
Climate Change Commission officials supported the campaign, saying old and dilapidated cars contribute to the worsening air pollution in the country.
CCC vice chairman and secretary Emmanuel de Guzman said climate and people-friendly public utility transport is long overdue.
“Climate change is caused by the unabated increase of carbon in the atmosphere. Next to electricity and heat production, the country’s transport sector drives the increase of the energy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
Orbos said “Our campaign is not a fight against our public utility drivers and operators. Rather, it is a fight against the perils and harm those road unworthy and unsafe public utility vehicles bring to people, to the community and our planet.”
“We are happy with the widening and deepening support to our campaign, as manifested by CCC’s recent statement,” he said.
The government will be spending P843 million to jump-start the nationwide implementation of the PUV modernization program.