PilipinasAuto makes initial 2-unit delivery of Dongfeng modern PUVs on 50-unit supply arrangement with Butuan cooperative

Gelzon de la Cruz

Pilipinas Autogroup, Inc. (PilipinasAuto), distributor of Dongfeng trucks and buses, has recently turned over two Dongfeng Class 2 modern PUVs to the Butuan Mutlicab Operators Transport Service Cooperative (BUMOTSCO). The units were delivered through PilipinasAuto’s dealer, Davao Bonifacio Motors, Inc. (DBMI), early this month.  In their press statement for the event, PilipinasAuto reported that the pair of vehicles are the first modern PUVs of BUMOTSCO and that these represent just the initial delivery on a 50-unit supply arrangement with the transport cooperative.

Present during the turn-over (from left to right): DBMI sales admin assistant Jenny Rose Sazo, BUMOTSCO vice chairperson Peter Bacaling, BUMOTSCO chairperson Anthony Antigulas, BUMOTSCO operations officer and safety supervisor Christopher Antigulas, BUMOTSCO member Julius Cupin, BUMOTSCO director Ferdinand Edullantes, and BUMOTSCO election committee chairman James Robert Ranoco

Also in their press statement for the event, PilipinasAuto vice-president and general manager Art Balmadrid is quoted as saying, “we are glad that we had the opportunity to supply high quality and affordable Dongfeng vehicles to help modernize public transportation in the country.” Balmadrid added that, “these modern PUVs will mostly benefit the riding public as it is safer and offers more convenience.”

A modern, mini bus-sized replacement to the traditional passenger jeepney, the Dongfeng Class 2 modern PUV can transport 26 people with 17 of them seated and 9 standing (these, with its conventional full-capacity not curtailed by measures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic).

A Dongfeng Class 2 modern PUV at a PilipinasAuto inspection bay

Powered by a Dongfeng D28D11 that’s a re-badged, license-built and Euro IV compliant Isuzu 4JB1 2.8 liter intercooled turbodiesel that delivers 115hp at 3,600rpm and 260Nm at 2,000rpm, the Dongfeng Class 2 PUV has the smallest displacement engine available among the current slew of modern PUV offerings–an advantage when the vehicle spends more time idling in city traffic crawls.

Inside the Dongfeng Class 2 modern PUV

The Dongfeng Class 2 PUV has a factory-installed overhead air-conditioning system plus the following features approved and specified by the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board:

  • Automatic fare collection system
  • CCTV cameras and recorder
  • LED route display
  • GPS tracking
  • LCD monitor
  • Internet connection shared via WiFi router

The Dongeng PUV is currently on offer at an introductory price of P1.960M and is covered by an industry-leading commercial vehicle warranty package for 2 years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever milestone comes first.