PUJs get makeover from DOT

The "King of the Road" may soon get a new look to become more attractive to tourists and become promoters of tourism as well.

Metro Manila jeepneys are getting a "facelift" by being color-coded and designed with stickers depicting the country’s various tourist spots as way to promote these vehicles to both local citizens and foreigners.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the project would also help jeepneys retain their value as a tourist attraction in the country.

"In all our travels, it came out that the jeepney continues to be the tourism icon of the country. The project ensures that the tourism value of the jeepney is maintained," he said.

Apart from carrying the "Makisaya, Biyahe Na" logo of the Department of Tourism (DOT), jeepneys will also have stickers of the country’s various tourist spots a part of their new design.

Jeepneys in Metro Manila will also be color-coded to distinguish them from colorum or out-of-line and unregistered units. This will complement the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s color-coding and route rationalization scheme.

Soon, blue-colored jeepneys will be plying Makati, yellow in Manila, red in Cubao, green in Pasig, khaki in Parañaque, orange in Pasay and purple in San Juan.

"The designs of the stickers will also match these colors," Durano said.

President Arroyo led yesterday the launching of the "Makisaya, Biyahe Na" jeepney wrap stickers project at the Kalayaan grounds of Malacañang.

She congratulated the DOT, LTFRB and the jeepney operators and drivers’ associations for the novel idea.

Jeepney Foundation of the Philippines national president Orlando Marquez said they would further complement the program by teaching drivers to be "courteous and responsible."

"This will be our contribution in showing the true beauty of the Philippines and the Filipino," Marquez said.

Durano said jeepneys that serve as a tourist attraction and promoter of Philippine tourism should not be dilapidated and rusty.

"Our only request is for them to fix their jeepneys because we cannot paint these or post stickers on them if they are rusty or full of holes," he said.

Some 180 jeepneys plying the business and tourist areas in Makati will jumpstart the project, the DOT chief said.

LTFRB chief Len Bautista said drivers would not spend for anything. All that is needed is their cooperation to make the project a success.

"This will be their contribution to the country’s tourism program," she said.

Durano said the DOT would also shoulder all the expenses for the re-designing of the jeepneys.

Bautista said they also plan a similar project for buses on EDSA.