Byahe rolls out modern public utility jeepney service in Pampanga

MANILA: Byahe officially unveiled modern jeepneys that will hit the road based on a scheduled dispatch system to significantly lessen road disorder in Pampanga. 

Consistent with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the government, the founders of Byahe envision a national presence that will eventually bring convenience and safety to the public, while promoting a more effective and coordinated public transportation industry at the same time.

Byahe co-founder and former Grab CEO Brian Cu said, “Byahe was born out of a dream and a vision: to pursue PUV modernization by professionalizing the services of jeepney drivers, and to finally make commuting more convenient, safer, and more affordable for the riding public.” 

With a similar vision of desiring a sustainable and genuine approach to traffic and transportation, Brian Cu, along with a few experienced fleet management, logistics, and transportation specialists as well as a investors, took over the reins of On-Us Solutions Inc. in 2018. Through this, the transport-centered division, Byahe, was established.

In complete conformity with the Omnibus Franchise Guidelines of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), BYAHE is poised as a corporate consolidator to unify the fragmented operators of the public utility jeepney (PUJ) industry. 

A mandate has been rolled out to offer a fleet management system for all modern jeepney operations. This will essentially bring an end to the obsolete practice that causes heavy traffic and leaves a massive carbon footprint.

In a statement, Cu explained that the ideal model for the PUVMP needs the appropriate financial capacity, experience, and management structure.

Byahe, which has similarities with the PUV system imposed in first-world countries, will follow a system in its operations that have designated stops, to optimize the efficient use of existing road networks and the potential to address transport and traffic concerns.

The whole fleet will also be handled under an effective technical platform that permits cashless transactions.

Cu explained, “This will ultimately benefit the commuting public. It will promote efficiency, convenience, and safety, as commuters will be able to organize their schedule and be assured of on-time transportation to and from their desired destinations.” 

Furthermore, Byahe targets the professionalism of the fragmented traditional jeepney industry, enabling the improvement of their livelihood and providing the opportunity for growth specifically for drivers. 

Through a system that Byahe will enforce, drivers will undergo proper training for values formation and they will be paid with salaries on a regular basis.

Cu said, “This means stable income for drivers and taxes for the government. The industry, once professionalized, will bring drivers to the formal economy, while operators of modernized fleets will be paying common carrier taxes.”

He added, “We thank, most especially, LTFRB Region III Director Ahmed Cuizon, for welcoming this project in Pampanga. We will continue to work with the government in making the PUV modernization program — through Byahe — a success.”

This February, Byahe will be introduced in Metro Manila, and in major Philippine cities for the entire year.

Photos from Byahe

Also read: Hyundai turns over 120 modern jeepneys to Bacoor City cooperative