New schedule for BPO free bus ride

CEBU, Philippines — Starting last night, business process outsourcing (BPO) workers in Cebu City can avail of the free shuttle ride from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

The Cebu City government has changed the schedule of the free ride for call center agents to an earlier time to cater to the first shift workers at night. The new schedule is 30 minutes earlier.

“We realized nga naa ma’y motrabaho og 9 p.m. so i-adjust namo ang schedule instead of leaving at 9 p.m., ari nami sa 8:30 p.m. para katong moduty sa first shift, makasakay,” Nanette Garong, call center program head told reporters.

The route of the 30-seater coaster is from Juan Luna Avenue corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. to Cebu IT Park and vice versa.

Asked if there will be an additional coaster if the demand increases, Garong said a private firm may provide a bus.

“Maybe later a private bus will do it for them. During our meeting with BPO employees, miingon sila na it doesn’t matter if moplite sila as long as safe sila and di sila ma-late,” Garong said.

Garong added there is already at least one private firm that is interested to ferry the workers with minimal transportation fee.

The city government will later evaluate the service offered to the BPO workers and a few adjustments maybe implemented if needed to improve the service.

On the first day of the dry run last Monday night, almost 100 individuals availed of the free ride and the coaster took nine trips.

Ronaldo Malacora, head of the Department of General Services (DGS), said they noted an increase in the volume of passengers during the 2nd day of “Ce-Bus” or the Kaoshiung buses deployed to transport workers from I.T. Park to Metro Colon and vice versa.

At least four city-owned buses with a capacity of around 50 individuals are available from 12 midnight to 6 a.m. The designated pickup area is at J.M. del Mar Ave./Geonzon St. bus stop.

The first route is from the pickup area to JY Square to Capitol area to Fuente Osmeña to Harrison Park to Abellana National School to Metro Colon and vice versa.

The second route is from the pickup area to corner of F. Cabahug St. to Mabolo Church to Hipodromo road to T. Padilla to S. Osmeña corner Osmeña Boulevard to Metro Colon and vice versa.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella supports the initiative of city government.

But he said the executive department should also offer the same service to students in the mountain barangays.

Labella said the city government should utilize the city-owned vehicles which were previously issued to the barangays to ferry the students for free.

“We do not object. Well, it’s good that he provides ride for call center agents but also we have to think of the poor students from the mountain barangays nga wala na makasakay sa libre nga sakyanan sa gobyerno,” he said.

Malacora said since September this year, the city government deployed at least four buses to transport the stranded students, workers, and others from barangay Talamban to Ayala and vice versa.

The buses start to ferry individuals from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. — MBG (FREEMAN)