CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco has recommended the adjustment of operating hours of the city’s 18 buses that are offering free rides to the public.
Cuenco, City Council’s Committee on Transportation chairman, said that based on their assessment for the first week of its deployment, it was observed that some public utility vehicles (PUVs) have been complaining because they are losing passengers as many would prefer the free rides.
“We did daily monitoring from Monday until Wednesday and we observed that the buses and the MPUJs (modernized public utility jeepneys) have been complaining because nawagtangan na kuno sila’g pasahero kay ang mga passengers preferred to ride the free buses,” said Cuenco.
“So, alkansi kuno sila sa byahe during these hours that our free buses are operating,” he added.
The free bus rides are available from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cuenco’s suggestion is to adjust its operations from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Monday to Friday.
“During the rush hours, duna may mahabilin gyud nga mga pasahero nga di na kasakay kay manguli naman ning public transport vehicles, so atoang sagupon na nato kaning times nga 8-10 p.m.,” he said.
He said he is recommending such “to balance everything.”
“Para di pud maalkansi katong mga nanginabuhi natong mga driver ug bus operators,” he said.
The routes covered by the free rides in the south include: City Hall, Bulacao, N. Bacalso, P. Del Rosario, Day-as, Talisay, Lawaan, SRP, Tabunok, Basak Pardo, Junquera, Colon, Cogon Pardo, Tagunol, C. Padilla, Inayawan, Labangon, Tisa, Punta Princesa, Guadalupe, V. Rama, Leon Kilat, Busay, Escario, Fuente, Jones Avenue, Banawa, Osmeña Blvd., Santo Niño, and vice versa.
Routes covered in the north include: City Hall, Mabolo, Lahug, Gorordo, Climaco Avenue, Ramos, Talamban, Pit-os, Bacayan, MJ Cuenco, Tintay, A.S Fortuna, Mandaue, Parkmall, SM City Cebu, S. Osmeña, Plaza Independencia, and vice versa. —KQD (FREEMAN)