Transport leaders question timing of ‘free bus rides’

Cebu City Hall’s planned purchase of buses to give free rides to the commuting public may be well-intentioned, but it’s to the detriment of jeepney drivers whose routes will be passed by the buses.

Between a jeepney in which fare is collected at P6.50 minimum per passenger and a City Hall bus that offers free rides, a passenger will always opt for the bus.

This was the sentiment of two transport leaders in Cebu.

City Hall has bid out the purchase of 19 buses for P152 million. Four companies submitted their bids last March 5.

Romeo Armamento, vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU) Visayas,

welcomed the efforts of Cebu City Hall but at the same time questioned the timing, given that the May 13 elections are coming up.

He said it’s “wrong timing” and that even a Grade 1 pupil can see through it, he told Superbalita Cebu on Friday, March 8.

Hurt livelihood

Jericho Mari Jumapao, chairman of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative (Citrasco), said the free-ride buses plying the same routes as the current jeepneys would hurt the livelihood of the jeepney drivers.

Passengers will always prefer free rides to paid rides, Jumapao said also in an interview with Superbalita Cebu.

He suggested that the buses be made to ply routes that are

not covered by jeepneys.

Instead of lending support to jeepney drivers, City Hall would now be competing against them for passengers, Armamento of NCTU said.

City Hall needs to thoroughly study the bus plan, he said.

Solve traffic

Armamento suggested that City Hall address the traffic problem first before it gives free bus rides.

A bus would cost City Hall P8 million and rides in it would be offered free during peak hours.

City Hall plans to deploy the buses in the Bulacao, IT Park and Talamban routes.

NCTU has more than 2,000 members with some plying the Talamban, Ayala and Mabolo routes. /