THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 has started deploying 10 public utility buses (PUBs) for the second scheme of the free-ride service contracting program in Cebu on Friday afternoon, April 16, 2021.
LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said the first batch of PUBs are all Ceres buses, operated by the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI).
Three of the PUBs follow the route Naga City to Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue via South Road Properties-SM Seaside City-Mambaling-N. Bacalso-Imus Road and vice versa.
Four other buses travel from the Danao Provincial Hospital to the University of Cebu Medical Center and vice versa, while another three buses travel from the Banilad-Talamban Road to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and vice versa.
Montealto said these buses will cater to frontliners only and are part of the 56 PUB units they eye for the second scheme of the free-ride service program for health care workers.
He said they initially targeted to deploy 40 modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJs) as well for authorized persons outside of residence (Apor) under the second scheme of the program
But while buses are exclusive for health care workers, they can also opt to ride MPUJs for free along with the Apor, as health care workers are the priority of the program.
The free-ride service program aims to provide health care workers and Apor easy access to transportation amid the pandemic.