MANDALUYONG CITY – The Office of the Vice President’s “Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS) - Libreng Sakay” program has served a total of 98,293 people in 1,470 trips nationwide.

The OVP, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), simultaneously launched the PHABS - Libreng Sakay in Metro Manila in Luzon, in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Bacolod in the Visayas, and Davao City in Mindanao on August 3.

The WIFI-ready buses were initially lent for the OVP’s use, but Duterte said these would be “more useful” if they were deployed in some key areas of the country to be used by the commuting public for free.

In Metro Manila, pick-up of passengers are scheduled at 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays and will follow the usual EDSA bus route.

The bus in Mandaue City ferries passengers from Jagobiao at 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Mondays and Tuesdays, while Cebu City’s PHABS bus starts plying its SM Seaside to IT Park route from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Lapu-Lapu City bus shuttles passengers at 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, starting at the Mactan Economic Processing Zone (MEPZ) 1.

The OVP bus also starts its point-to-point ride in Bacolod City at 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. except Saturdays. The free bus transport will also serve other selected barangays in the city on scheduled days.

The areas of Lasang, Toril, and Calinan are the designated pick-up stations in Davao City. The operation starts at 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday for Lasang area passengers, Wednesdays and Thursdays for Toril, and Fridays and Saturdays for Calinan-bound commuters.

The OVP said the free shuttle transport will strictly impose the “No Face Mask, No Ride” policy to ensure the safety of passengers from COVID-19.

OVP MEDIA