MANILA: The week-long transport strike, which was declared by a number of transportation organizations in defiance of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)'s ultimatum to switch to more contemporary jeepneys, began yesterday. To assist stranded passengers in reaching their destinations, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila sent out their own public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Yet not all transportation organizations took part in the week-long strike. Association Committed Transport Organization Nationwide Cooperation (ACTONA) is one of the organizations, instead of participating in the aforementioned strike, displayed its own take on a contemporary PUV with a vintage jeepney look.

The suggested modern jeepney by ACTONA, which was presented to the LTFRB, has the appearance of a classic jeepney but the functionality of a minibus. It features side-facing seats, safety handles for standing passengers, and a side entrance enabling the riding public's entry and exit in a more secure manner.

ACTONA claims that their planned jeepney is far less expensive than standard current PUVs, which normally cost roughly P2.6 million. It is cheaper than the current new PUV that cooperatives can purchase because it only costs half as much. Actually, one of the main complaints of both drivers and operators of conventional jeepneys is the exorbitant expense of the contemporary PUV.

Since many PUV operators and cooperatives claim that the cost of modern PUVs is still excessive, ACTONA's suggestion might end up being the more affordable option while still adhering to modern PUV standards.

Photos from PTV,  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

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