Modern jeepneys in Boracay?

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Modern public utility jeepneys may soon ply the Boracay roads as part of the transport modernization program of the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

The roll-out hopes to provide safer and comfortable utility vehicles for tourists and residents of Boracay.

With the re-opening of Boracay on October 26, the modern jeepneys will cater the large demand of passengers from Kalibo and Caticlan airports and two sea ports in Tabon and Caticlan in Malay, Aklan.

A distributor of Euro-4 compliant jeepneys Yellow Dot Transport Terminal, Inc. recently conducted a survey of Boracay’s transport requirements in the proposed public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

The company manages transport terminals in SM Supermalls and handles fleet management of various FX groups coordinating with Araneta Center.

But, the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan wants to reconsider whether the proposal will complement electronic tricycles (e-trikes) operating in the island.

A 23-seater modern jeepney for Boracay main road that will cost P1.9-million is equipped with global positioning system, wi-fi, automatic fare collection and closed-circuit television (CCTV). The jeepneys will serve the 9.1-km Boracay main road route for a minimum fare of P10 for the first four kilometers and P2 additional fare per succeeding kilometer.

The modern jeepneys will also serve the 2.3-km Caticlan airport-port route in mainland Malay for a P10 fare.

According to Yellow Dot, the roll-out will help decongest the Boracay main road by deploying modernized jeepneys, which carry more passengers with designated and timed stops and pick-ups.

The existing e-trikes operating in the island will be redeployed in narrow routes of Boracay. These e-trikes will be adopting color coding scheme for each route.

The route rationalization will also ensure passenger volume and income of unit for drivers and stakeholders and will regulate the routes under the automated fare collection system (AFCS).

Yellow Dot stressed the transport modernization will address the undersupplied routes in Boracay and public transport users of all income levels.

Currently, the Boracay Land Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative (BLTMPC) has 543 member trikes and also operates 64 multicabs in Boracay and Malay (27 are defective) and one 22-seater solar jeep.