DTI-Assisted Transportation Service Provider Launches PUVs for Cavite Commuters

Addressing the dilemma caused by the community quarantine in the public transportation in Cavite, the Department of Trade and Industry-assisted transportation service provider launched their eco-friendly public utility vehicles (PUVs) for the commuters in the province.

The Silang Transport Service and Development Cooperative, a beneficiary of the DTI’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) program, introduced their 23 new and modernized units of PUV to provide service in Imus City and Silang, Cavite.

Through the financial assistance of the Department of Budget and Management and the effort of Silang Transport’s Manager, Mr. Sulpicio Arellano, the Cooperative has successfully paved the way to offer and run the first ecological and conducive PUV in the province. They demonstrated their readiness to serve the public by observing social distancing and other health protocols with their passengers.

According to Arellano, this is their answer to the government’s call for a nature-friendly transportation system and the LGUs’ call to service commuters plying from Silang to Imus and Silang to Tagaytay and vice-versa. Routes will be stretched once the new normal is in place in the province.

Established in 1991, fifteen individuals from different transport associations in Silang joined and worked for the registration of the Silang Transport. They started their business and services to members by applying passenger utilities jeepney franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

In 2013, the DTI 4-A through its SSF program awarded the Silang Transport Service and Development Cooperative with equipment such as a hydraulic pipe bender, universal sheet bender, sheet metal cutter, acetylene torch, and welding machine for body fabrication and repair. Thus, Cooperative was able to increase its services to the members on repairs up to 15%, assemble additional cooperative owned unit, and increase motor shop income to 10%, greatly improving their production and capacity to address the needs of its members.

Through the SSF, members and member-drivers continue to use the equipment to their modernized PUVs in terms of maintenance and repair. Presently, the Cooperative has 174 member operators.

“We would like to congratulate the Silang Transport Service and Development Cooperative for this achievement! You have proven that there are, indeed, many ways to thrive amidst this pandemic through a sheer amount of perseverance, optimism, and determination. We really believe that through the relentless effort and convergence of the government and the private sector, we will be able to survive in this crisis,” said DTI CALABARZON Director Marilou Q. Toledo

The Department’s SSF is a national program that aims to improve the competitiveness of the micro, small, and medium (MSMEs) by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system.

The SSF program is being implemented nationwide by the DTI-Regional Operations Group headed by Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona.