CITY TO BUY BUSES FOR UPLAND COEDS

Project to have its first route on transcentral highway, from Barangay Gaas, Balamban to J.Y. Square in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City

To address concerns on public transport in the upland areas, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña plans to buy 10 buses that will transport students from the mountain barangays to the downtown area next year.

“What we are going to do in the mountain barangays, and we will start this next year, is that we will have a bus line. We will start with one route and we will study it,” Osmeña told reporters last Friday.

The mayor said the first route will be on the transcentral highway, particularly from Gaas, Balamban to J.Y. Square in Barangay Lahug.

Osmeña said waiting sheds will be constructed along the route, and the City will buy 10 new buses for this project.

He said the program will be implemented next year before the local elections.

The transport service will be free of charge for college students.

“Why would we spend another P50 million to build boarding houses in the city for them? Why don’t we just buy 10 buses and we will just pay for the gas every day?” he said.

Osmeña said the habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) drivers can still earn as they will be bringing the students from different mountain barangays to the transcentral highway, where the buses will wait for them. The fare will be less, as the area is not that far compared to driving the students to the downtown area.

Asked if non-students can also enjoy the service, Osmeña said the students would be prioritized.