Chavit assures Mindanao transport coops on e-vehicle loan promise

Cheng Ordoñez·19 December 2024, 12:52 pm·1 min read

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Chavit assures Mindanao transport coops on e-vehicle loan promise — Former Ilocos Gov. Chavit Singson addresses the concerns of transport cooperatives during a press conference held Wednesday, 18 December 2024, at Asenso Global Garden, Tangub, Misamis Occidental. Local government officials, led by Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal (2nd from right), Ozamiz City Mayor Indy Oaminal (rightmost), and Tangub City Mayor Sabiniano Canama (leftmost), accompanied the senatorial candidate (#58) from Ilocos.
Photo by Cheng Ordoñez

TANGUB, Misamis Occidental — Former Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson assured transport cooperatives in Mindanao that he is "keeping his promise" to provide the loans for modern electric vehicles (e-vehicles) to the members of the Consortium of Mindanao Transport Cooperatives and Corporations (CMTCC), who he met last February, at a transport forum in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Manong Chavit announced this during a press conference held Wednesday, 18 December, at Asenso Global Garden. He was accompanied by Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal and other provincial local government officials.

In February, Singson was invited by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista to Laguindingan to be one of the guests at the transport forum, where 30 transport cooperatives submitted their applications to avail of the loan program he offered.

Singson's loan package consists of "No Down Payment," "No Interest," and an "Easy Amortization Scheme" for the procurement of modern e-vehicles (Class 2) that comply with the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), formerly known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Singson, a senatorial candidate with No. 58 on the ballot, urged loan applicants to be patient, noting that "the production of e-vehicles is limited to a maximum of 600 units per month, and there are hundreds of applicants from all over the country." He advised CMTCC members to contact the office he created for the loan program.

CMTCC members were the first to submit loan applications that Singson personally received in Mindanao in response to challenges facing modernization, particularly the procurement of modern public utility vehicles (MPUVs), which cost between P2 million and P3 million each.

"My electric modern vehicles are much cheaper. Aside from being offered through a loan program, each unit costs only P1.2 million," Singson said during the press conference.

The PUVMP is a comprehensive reform of the public land transportation industry, launched in response to the growing challenges faced by the country's public transportation system. Outdated vehicles, safety concerns, and worsening environmental issues prompted the need for modernization. With the PUVMP, the Philippine government aims to ensure stable and dignified livelihoods for drivers and operators while providing commuters with quick, safe, and comfortable journeys.