Vice President Leni Robredo announced her office will provide free shuttle service for health workers and other frontliners in Cebu City that will be operational starting on Monday, July 6.
(Charlie Villegas / OVP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Speaking on her Sunday radio show, Robredo said they will hold the dry run for the shuttle service that will initially serve three routes such as Bulacao to Fuente Osmena, Fuente Osmena to Mandaue, and Cebu North General Hospital to Fuente Osmena.
“Mag-uumpisa tayo city na muna pero mag-e-extend tayo sa labas. Tinitingnan natin Talisay, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu. Nag-a-asses pa po tayo ngayon (We will start first in the city, but we will extend in other areas. We are looking at Talisay, Mandaue, and Cebu. We are still assessing),” she said.
Robredo’s announcement came amid the suspension of mass transport in Cebu City, which remains under the enhanced community quarantine until July 15, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Her office sent a four-person team last Thursday to assess the urgent needs in the area as part of its COVID-19 response operations.
The vice president advised those who will avail themselves of the shuttle service in Cebu City that the detailed bus routes and schedules will be posted on her Facebook page.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) initiated the free shuttle service for health workers and other frontliners on March 18 when the ECQ took effect in Metro Manila.
Passengers have to present a valid ID from a hospital where they work to get the bus ride. They need to observe health protocols such as temperature check and social distancing.
Apart from the shuttle service, OVP will also open three dormitories where COVID-19 frontliners can stay for free.
“Siguro (Maybe) in the middle of this week mag-uumpisa na dormitories natin. Dalawa hanggang tatlong dormitories muna. (We will start first with two to three dormitories),” Robredo said.
OVP’s other initiatives also include providing swabbing booths to testing facilities for coronavirus in Cebu City.
“We had shipped testing booths to Cebu. Hopefully, it already arrived,” the vice president said.