Cebu City readies free buses as transport strike looms

Local

THE Cebu City government will deploy six buses to provide free rides to commuters who will be impacted by a transport strike scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The buses will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. along designated routes connecting southern and northern parts of the city to Colon, the city’s central business district.

The deployment is intended to provide alternative transportation while maintaining safe and orderly movement of commuters during the strike, according to the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).

The six buses will serve three routes. Bus 1 will run from Bulacao to Colon, while Bus 2 will take the reverse route.

Buses 3 and 4 will serve the Guadalupe-Colon route in opposite directions, while Buses 5 and 6 will operate between Talamban and Colon.

The southern route will include stops in Brgy. Bulacao, N. Bacalso Avenue, P. del Rosario, Brgy. Day-as and Colon Street.

The Guadalupe route will pass through Petron Guadalupe, V. Rama, Cebu City Medical Center, eMall, Leon Kilat and Colon.

The northern route will include Ban-Tal Road, Ayala Center Cebu, M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Colon.

All six buses will operate during the morning and afternoon peak periods, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Three buses will remain in operation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Buses 1, 3 and 5 deployed during that period.

Buses 2, 4 and 6 will take over from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Additionally, two quick response team personnel will be assigned to each bus to assist with passenger safety and emergencies. Additional personnel may be deployed depending on passenger volume and operational requirements.

The QRT personnel will stay with their assigned buses throughout their routes and assist passengers during boarding, travel and disembarkation.

They will also provide priority assistance to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and other vulnerable passengers.

The teams will monitor and immediately report medical, security and other incidents and coordinate with bus drivers on emergency situations and safe stopping points.

The Operations Center, meanwhile, will monitor bus movements, traffic conditions and incidents and serve as the central point for communications during the deployment.

Several transport groups in Cebu has confirmed that it will join a nationwide transport strike on Sept. 29 and 30 amid rising fuel prices.

The groups said the action is intended to press the government to address fuel costs and other concerns affecting drivers, operators and commuters.

Likewise, they said the recently implemented P1 increase for traditional jeepneys and P2 increase for modern public utility vehicles does not address its broader demands.

The fare adjustments took effect Monday, Sept. 28, following the lifting of the suspension on a fare hike approved earlier this year. The increase came amid successive fuel price increases that have raised operating costs for public utility vehicle drivers and operators.(RBE)