UV Express

A UV Express terminal (see white vans in left foreground) outside the SM City North EdSA mall

UV Express is a license to operate utility vehicles, particularly vans, as an alternative mode of public transportation in the Philippines.

History

In 1993, Toyota Motor Company in the Philippines introduced the 3rd generation Tamaraw FX. This vehicle was designed and marketed as a smaller type of utility vehicle (as compared to the larger utility vehicles in countries like the United States). The Tamaraw FX could basically seat a driver and one passenger in front, three passengers in the second row, with a relatively large space left for luggage. This luggage space could also be used to provide additional seating space, although with a rather limited legroom. This vehicle, as well as comparable offerings from other automobile manufacturers, would eventually be used as a form of public transport, colloquially referred to as the "FX".

Company and Routes

A UV Express van passes in front of the San Mateo, Rizal Municipal Hall

UV Express follows the franchisee model and has more than 120 services in the Philippines including the NCR (National Capital region).^[1] The country's Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board serves as the owner of the franchise.

UV Express vans are air conditioned, usually seat 14 passengers and charge 2 Philippine pesos per kilometer (as of 2013).^[2] They have their own passenger terminals in Manila, Makati (Ayala center),^[3] Cubao (North avenue) and similar busy places.^[4]

The name UV stands for "Utility Vehicle".^[5] It is also a pun for Uwi na (Tagalog : Let us go home)

References

1. "List of Registered UV Express routes" (PDF). LTFRB - Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Body. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
2. Camus, Miguel (19 August 2013). "LTFRB warns overcharging UV Express taxi drivers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
3. "UV Express Terminal - Ayala center". Official website. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
4. Amojelar, Darwin (18 August 2013). "LTFRB warns UV Express operators: Don't overcharge Coastal Mall-Lawton passengers". Inter Aksyon News. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
5. Mayuga, Jonathan (18 December 2012). "Drivers stand to lose jobs with phase-out of old UV Express units–labor group". Business Mirror. Retrieved 30 September 2013.