Solons push to keep jeepney’s iconic look

The proposed modernized jeepneys should keep the iconic look of the traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs), lawmakers said Thursday.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras,”  this developed during a House of Representatives committee hearing where a prototype combining the attributes of both modern and traditional PUJs was presented.

“Dapat sigurong i-maintain natin ang design. 'Yung lumang design because kultura na natin ito,” said Agri Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee.

(Maybe we should maintain the design, the traditional design, because it is part of our culture.)

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) sees no problem with the suggestion as long as the prototype adheres to the required measurements and environmental guidelines.

“We are, of course, rooting and supporting local manufacturers to provide a design that is acceptable to the culture and history of the Philippines,” said DoTr Undersecretary Mark Pastor.

Of the 48 PUJ manufacturers, only 13 are Filipino. Pastor said it is still up to the jeepney cooperative or corporation which manufacturer to hire. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News