City expands free shuttle routes for BPO workers

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has expanded the coverage of the free bus rides to hinterland barangays in the city following the murder of another business process outsourcing (BPO) worker.

One city-owned van will shuttle BPO workers to IT Park from barangays Bacayan, Pit-os, and Talamban, and vice- versa. The van is available from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Pickup is at Flying V in Barangay Pit-os, and will go to both the Ayala and IT Park terminals.

The free transportation service started Saturday night, roughly 21 hours after the death of Christina Jayson, who was shot dead a few meters away from her house in Sitio Upper, Barangay Bacayan, a hinterland village of Cebu City.

Jayson, a nurse by profession, was heading for work at IT Park in Barangay Apas when an unknown assailant shot her. She was 25.

Jayson’s death came 46 days after the murder of a call center agent, Loraine Temple, who was killed by robbers on Pope John Paul II in Barangay Mabolo on October 3 dawn.

The recent move came following the text messages received by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“Mayor please protect us BPO employees. A friend got killed last night (Saturday). This is already very alarming,” read one of the text messages, which were posted on the mayor’s official Facebook page.

In an interview, Nanette Garong, Cebu City Call Center Program head, said the mayor acted immediately after receiving requests from BPO workers.

She said less than 10 BPO workers availed of the free ride.

“Since it was so urgent, dili gyud kaayo daghan nisakay. Ang kadtong gikan sa Pit-os with the help of barangay officials kay gipatapok man nila. There were less than 10,” she said.

At present, there are four buses deployed in Metro Colon, and another in Barangay Mabolo, to ferry workers to I.T. Park from midnight to 6 a.m.  The operations started last week.

The buses are servicing two routes.

Route 1 covers uptown areas with stops at J.Y. Square, Capitol, Fuente Osmeña, Harrison Park, Abellana National School. Route 2, on the other hand, will have designated stops at F. Cabahug Street, Hipodromo, T. Padilla, S. Osmeña St., corner Osmeña Blvd., and Metro Colon.

One coaster is also available for Route 3, which traverses from Juan Luna Avenue corner MJ Cuenco Avenue to Cebu IT Park, and vice versa. It is available from 8:15 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

The bus has a capacity of 50 passengers, while the coaster can accommodate up to 30 passengers.

Department of General Services head Ronaldo Malacora said the buses are equipped with closed-circuit television cameras. (FREEMAN)