The Western Visayas Transport Cooperative, an Iloilo City-based organization, is looking to assist jeepney operators as the national government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program is set to take effect.

The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CIPJODA) have both joined the co-op, with each claiming 90 percent of their vehicles would be affected by the program.

According to ICLAJODA President Raymundo Parcon, members will be able to borrow loans from the organization in order to purchase modern jeepneys, which are said to cost between P1.3 million and P1.6 million.

The Department of Transportation is expected to launch environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient jeepneys later this month.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez described the prototype vehicle to GMA News as having “an exit door on the side of the vehicle and a bigger body to accommodate more passengers.”

The program seeks to phase-out jeepneys that are at least 15 years old. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier warned operators of such vehicles to keep them off the road by January 1 or risk having their units impounded./PLL, WDJ