Mandaue rolls out first route of Libreng Sakay

CEBU, Philippines — The public, particularly students and workers, can now begin availing of the free ride along the first route launched by the Mandaue City government under the “Libreng Sakay” bus program, in a bid to help ease daily transportation expenses.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano said the initiative, while starting modestly, is a meaningful step toward providing relief to city residents.

“Hinaut daghan ang malipay, makapahimulos, ug makabenepisyo aning atong inisyatiba,” Ouano said in an interview.

While the service is open to the general public, the city government said students and their guardians will be given priority, in line with the program’s goal of reducing transportation costs.

The mayor, together with city councilors, joined the dry run of the program yesterday, February 3, ahead of its official launch.

For its initial phase, the free ride service will operate along Route 1, which runs from Mandaue City Hall to the University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) and back. The buses will ply the route from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ouano said two minibuses are currently deployed, each capable of accommodating around 20 passengers, with six designated stops along the route.

“This is only route one. For the first few days or weeks, naa pa gyud ni fine-tuning,” the mayor said, noting that the city is closely monitoring operations to improve efficiency.

The buses currently in use were donated by Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Mark Anthony Ynoc last September.

Ouano expressed gratitude to the business group, adding that discussions are underway with other donors who have committed to providing additional buses.

“Actually, we have six planned routes. Once the additional buses arrive, we can already open route two and accommodate more passengers,” he said.

For his part, Ynoc said the free bus service could translate into significant daily savings for commuters, particularly workers in the city’s industrial areas.

“Workers can save as much as ?90 daily on round-trip fares, which is already a big help,” Ynoc said, adding that the initiative also benefits students and supports mobility within Mandaue City.

The city government said it will gradually expand the Libreng Sakay program in the coming months as more buses and routes become available. — (FREEMAN)