THE Cebu Provincial Government formally signed on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to roll out "Tabang Pangbyahe."
The initiative makes Cebu the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to implement its own subsidized bus service program.
Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) head Elizar Sabinay Jr. said the initiative was institutionalized following a series of consultations and meetings with national government agencies and transport stakeholders aimed at addressing Metro Cebu's longstanding public transportation challenges.
He said the province hopes to begin implementation as soon as possible, describing the program as the country's first LGU-led net service contracting initiative designed to improve commuters' daily travel experience while supporting broader mobility and disaster resilience goals.
"Hopefully, we can start as soon as possible. This is the first LGU-led net service contracting program in the Philippines that directly addresses commuters' needs," Sabinay said.
DOTr Senior Undersecretary for Road Transportation and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said the initiative is an innovative evolution of the national government's service contracting program.
First introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the original program sought to ensure that public transport remained operational despite pandemic-related mobility restrictions.
Pastor said Cebu's model aims to create a predictable, reliable, and efficient transportation system where commuters know exactly when buses will arrive and depart.
"Those who have less in life must have more on the roads. Our priority is for commuters to go from point A to point B at a specific time and with the confidence that public transportation will always be available," Pastor said.
The program seeks to improve what officials described as the "total quality experience" of commuters in Metro Cebu, where long waiting times and unreliable public transportation have pushed many residents to purchase private vehicles.
According to Sabinay, around 70 percent of Metro Cebu's population relies on public transportation, yet only about 10 percent of the vehicles on the roads are dedicated to serving commuters.
"This project is focused mainly on daily commuters—students, professionals and workers who travel in and out of Metro Cebu every day," he said.
Sabinay said Tabang Pangbyahe is anchored on three main objectives: availability, accessibility, and reliability.
Under the program, the province aims to drastically reduce average waiting times from the current 40 minutes to one hour during peak periods down to just 15 to 20 minutes.
It also seeks to make travel schedules more predictable by ensuring buses arrive at designated stops on time and that passengers can expect reliable transportation during peak hours.
The third component focuses on comfort and dignity for commuters.
"Komportable. Through our program, your dignity and rights as passengers are honored. Less to no standing will be allowed for all buses involved in the program, giving you full seated comfort during your travel," Sabinay said.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the initiative demonstrates how meaningful public service requires cooperation among different institutions.
"The Cebu Provincial Government is not alone in its earnest desire to serve the Cebuano people and make their lives better," Baricuatro said.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza said the program places commuters at the center of transport planning by focusing on efficiency, convenience, and service quality.
"The total quality experience of commuters begins from the time they step out of their homes. They should know when the bus will arrive and when they will reach their destination. Everything is geared toward efficiency," Mendoza said.
He also emphasized the importance of local and national government collaboration in implementing transport reforms.
"Local government cooperation with the national government is the key to the success of any road transport plan," he said.
Under Tabang Pangbyahe, passengers may board and alight only at designated bus stops identified through a study conducted by the PPDO.
The pilot implementation will cover two routes: the northern corridor between Cebu IT Park and Danao City, and the southern corridor between the Cebu South Bus Terminal and Simala in Sibonga.
Participating bus operators must comply with strict service standards set by the provincial government. These requirements include functional Global Positioning System (GPS) units linked to an operational command center, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, strict cleanliness and sanitation requirements, low-floor buses accessible to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, operational air-conditioning systems, and a strict no-standing policy.
The DOTr has allocated P20 million for the program, which will be used to provide incentives to participating operators under the subsidy scheme.
Provincial officials said procurement for participating operators will begin immediately, with implementation targeted for the end of June or the first week of July 2026.
If successful, officials said the program could serve as a model for other provinces and local government units across the country. (April Vince Villacorta and Jhoyenn Sumayan, CNU interns)
