A local bus company has deployed 10 of its units for the free ride for healthcare workers and Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) in Cagayan de Oro City and nearby areas.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the deployment was done after the signing of the Service Contracting Program Phase III between the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Pabama bus company.
The ten units of buses covers the Cagayan de Oro – Balingoan route at the Agora Bus Terminal in Cagayan de Oro City.
"The Gross Service Contracting Program Nationwide for healthcare workers and APORs as enrolled by its participating public utility vehicle operators, will operate on their authorized and existing routes with no fare collected from passengers," the statement read.
The payment of the Service Contacting Program will be shouldered by a budget from the General Appropriations Act under two modes of contract.
The free ride for healthcare workers and APORs was initially launched in Metro Manila. The DOTR said more routes will be opened in various parts of the country in the coming days.