Chavit offers no-interest loans for e-jeepneys

TANGUB, Misamis Occidental — Senatorial candidate Luis “Manong Chavit” Singson reiterated his commitment to support transport cooperatives in Mindanao by ensuring the availability of loans for modern electric vehicles (e-vehicles).

Singson made this assurance during a press conference on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal and other local government officials of the province.

His pledge comes nearly 10 months after Singson met with the members of the Consortium of Mindanao Transport Cooperatives and Corporations (CMTCC) during a transport forum held in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, last February.

The event was organized by the Department of Transportation (DoTr), where 30 transport cooperatives from across Mindanao submitted their applications and supporting documents to avail of the loan program Singson offered for the procurement of modern electric vehicles.

Manong Chavit, who is listed as No. 58 on the Senate ballot, shared the details of his loan package during the press conference.

His offer includes a "No Down Payment, No Interest, and Easy Amortization Scheme" for the purchase of modern e-vehicles (Class 2) that comply with the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), which was formerly known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

These modern e-vehicles are part of a nationwide initiative to modernize the public transport system by replacing old, polluting, and inefficient vehicles with eco-friendly alternatives.

Running under the slogan, “May Isang Salita,” Singson emphasized that the loan terms are designed to ease the financial burden on transport cooperatives, enabling them to access modern vehicles without the heavy upfront costs typically associated with such purchases.

During the press conference, Manong Chavit assured the members of CMTCC, who were among the first to submit loan applications in Mindanao, that the processing of their loan requests would proceed, although he urged patience due to the high demand.

He explained that the production of the modern e-vehicles is limited to a maximum of 600 units per month, while there are hundreds of applicants from across the country vying for these vehicles.

As a result, Singson advised the CMTCC members to stay in contact with the office he established specifically for managing the loan applications and to remain patient while the vehicles are being produced.

Singson also highlighted that the modern e-vehicles offered through his loan program are priced significantly lower than traditional modern public utility vehicles (MPUVs), which can cost anywhere from P2 million to P3 million per unit.

His electric vehicles are priced at just P1.2 million each, making them a more affordable alternative for transport cooperatives.

The PUVMP, which was launched as a response to the country’s growing public transportation challenges, aims to address the issues of outdated vehicles, safety concerns, and environmental degradation.

The program’s goal is to replace aging vehicles with safer, more environmentally friendly alternatives while ensuring that public transport drivers and operators continue to have stable livelihoods. The modernization initiative also seeks to provide commuters with faster, safer, and more comfortable travel options.

Singson’s loan program is an important part of this broader modernization effort. He expressed his hope that, through his initiatives, transport operators in Mindanao would be able to adopt cleaner, more sustainable technologies that will benefit both the environment and their businesses in the long run.

“I believe that this initiative can help transform the public transport sector in Mindanao by offering a greener, more efficient solution for transport operators and drivers,” Manong Chavit said. “By supporting the CMTCC and other transport cooperatives, we are not only modernizing the fleet but also ensuring that the people of Mindanao continue to have access to reliable and eco-friendly public transportation.”