STA. MARIA, Davao Occidental (PIA) – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board XI launched on Wednesday (Dec. 7) the modernized Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) in Sta. Maria town, Davao Occidental.

The three units of modernized PUVs will be plying the route of Digos City in Davao del Sur to Sta. Maria, and vice-versa.

LTFRB-XI Regional Director Nonito Llanos III bared that Sta. Maria is the first municipality in Davao Occidental to have received the class-three PUVs.

“We are making history today because this is the first route with modernized units in Davao Occidental,” Llanos stated.

He mentioned that early next year, another operator will be putting in place modernized units to take the route from Digos City to Malita, Davao Occidental.

Sta. Maria Mayor Claude Benjamin II Bautista was thankful to LTFRB-XI for considering the municipality as the first recipient of the PUV units in the province.

He cited the importance of having the modernized PUVs, as this makes traveling time shorter and easier.

“This is a big blessing for the people of Sta. Maria. The travel here will be more efficient now,” Bautista said in the vernacular.

The newly-launched modernized PUVs are designed to make the country’s public transportation system safer, more convenient, accessible, efficient and environment-friendly. (PIA-XI/Franchette Delfin)