Fortifying its position as the country’s leading truck body builder, Centro Manufacturing Corporation showed its full force when it fielded seven of the sixteen prototypes of the modern jeepney for the government’s PUV Modernization Program at the recent Eco PUV Showcase of the Department of Industry. The showcase was a side event at the 1st Philippine Auto Parts Exhibit of the Philippine Parts Makers Association at the Philippine Trade Training Center at Pasay City.
The DTI has branded the modern PUV as Eco PUV for two reasons. Eco for ecological reason since to get into the program, the PUV powerdrive must either be the less-polluting Euro 4 compliant diesel engine or electric motor or hybrid. Eco also for economic reasons since the PUV must be locally assembled, thus providing more employment and business opportunities for the SMEs.
Centro displayed five Euro 4 models and the only two electric PUV models. All models complied with the new Bureau of Philippine Standards PNS 2126:2017 coveringr the modern PUV. The platforms were supplied by leading truck manufacturing brands such as Isuzu, Fuso/Mitsubishi, Tata, Foton and electric jeepney maker PhUV Inc.
Centro COO Jerryme Garcia says that Centro is in full support of the government’s Eco PUV Program which aims to use the third slot in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program for the fiscal incentives. ”We are glad that the DTI is pushing for local manufacturing resurgence. We need this large demand to increase our production volumes and enjoy economies of scale to bring down our costs and consequently, our prices”.
During his speech at the PhilAPEX opening, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez joked that the third slot which amounts to nine billion pesos in incentives is bigger than the DTI’s own annual budget.
“We look forward to supplying the demand for the PUV Modernization Program and bringing the country closer to having a world class and modern mass transport system that the Filipino people deserve. Let us all support the modern Eco PUVs since they are made in the Philippines.Gawang Pilipino para sa Pilipino”, Garcia concludes.
