Manila, Sept. 23 -- Government financial assistance is allowing a transport cooperative in Iloilo to deploy all 95 of its modernized jeepneys despite rising fuel costs, its chairperson said Wednesday.

Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) chair Raymundo "Boyet" Parcon said the cooperative expects to receive the PHP20,000 monthly assistance per unit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) within the week.

WVTC operates 95 modernized jeepneys serving routes from the Mohon, Ungka and Tagbak terminals to Iloilo City.

"This is a big help for us. Imagine, that is PHP20,000 per unit per month. Because of this, our board has decided that we will deploy 100 percent of our units," Parcon said in an interview....