CEBU CITY – City-owned buses will be deployed to help ferry passengers who may be stranded as a result of the city under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until Aug. 15.
City Councilor James Cuenco said the deployment of 18 buses, which will offer rides, will start on Monday, Aug. 9.
Cuenco, the chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Transportation, said the city found a need to deploy buses as strict health protocols will be enforced during MECQ.
He said passenger vehicle can only accommodate a limited number of passengers to ensure that proper social distancing will not be violated.
The buses will start plying in various routes from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Trips will resume at 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
“The purpose of this is to help passengers who may be stranded because we will be strictly enforcing the no overloading policy,” said Cuenco.
Police Col. Josefino Ligan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said police have been strict in inspecting public utility vehicles (PUVs).
Ligan said that from Aug. 3 to 4, 131 PUV drivers were cited for failing to impose proper social distancing in their units.
Ligan said 98 taxi drivers and two bus drivers were also penalized for violating the PUV protocols.