ILOILO City – On the first week of May, 400 modernized jeepneys ordered by the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) will be delivered here.
WVTC ordered 800 units at P2.5 million per unit from Foton Motors based in Metro Manila.
The 400 others would be delivered by June or July, said Raymundo Parcon, president of WVTC which covers this city, the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras.
The cooperative took a P1.750-billion loan from Land Bank of the Philippines to purchase the modernized jeepneys.
The initial delivery would service major routes in Iloilo City including the following:
* Jaro CPU to Iloilo City and vice versa
* Jaro Tagbak to Iloilo City and vice versa
* Jaro Liko-NFA to Iloilo City and vice versa
* La Paz – Iloilo City and vice versa
* Molo – Iloilo City and vice versa
* Arevalo – Iloilo City and vice versa
* Mandurriao – Iloilo City and vice versa
Some of the units would be deployed to the provinces.
Parcon said drivers of traditional jeepneys would be tapped by WTC to operate the modernized jeepneys and they would be receiving salary (every 15th and 30th of the month).
The salary would be “above the minimum” daily wage in the region, according to Parcon without giving specific figures.
The drivers would undergo training and drug tests prior to deployment.
The fare would still be P11 for the first four kilometers and an additional P1.80 per succeeding kilometer./PN
