A TOTAL of 18 new stops will be added to the existing stops of MyBus in Cebu City anytime this month.

The Cebu City Council approved on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the resolution of Councilor Dave Tumulak allowing the Metro Rapid Transit Services Inc. (MRTSI) to establish more temporary bus stops for MyBus.

In an interview, Tumulak said there is no certain date yet as to when the additional temporary stops will be operational but he will ask MRTSI to start the soonest possible time.

“We really want them to start as soon as possible because the main purpose here is to cater to the stranded passengers because the existing buses cannot accommodate anymore the residents in the south since there are also passengers from the towns of Minglanilla, Naga and San Fernando,” he said.

Additional stops for route 1 or the South Road Properties (SRP), N. Bacalso Ave., and Fuente Osmeña route will include BDO Fuente and San Carlos-V. Rama stops.

For route 2 or the Talisay to Cebu City via SRP and N. Bacalso Ave., additional temporary stops will include Bulacao Skywalk, Pardo Public Market, University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak Campus, Shopwise in Barangay Mambaling, Vestil Road and the MyBus stop inside the SRP.

In his resolution, Tumulak said that a high quality transport public system like the MyBus will service the heavy influx of passengers, particularly students and workers who are usually having a hard time getting a ride from and to school and work.

MyBus is allowed to ply certain routes in the city while the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit system is not yet operational.

“The low quality of existing transportation can discourage people from using public transport especially when considering safety, comfort and reliability. A high quality air- conditioned public transport equipped with CCTV is heavily needed to encourage private car users to switch to public transport,” read a portion of the resolution.

At present, MyBus plies the route from SM City Cebu to Compania Maritima, SM Seaside City Cebu, and Talisay City in the south and in Parkmall towards Mactan Cebu International Airport in the north.