As pilgrims streamed into the city for Sinulog, Cebu City on Friday rolled out two free electric buses to ferry devotees to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. introduced the e-buses during a ceremonial ride on Friday, January 16, as the city officially opened Devotee City 2026 for pilgrims arriving from outside Cebu.
The buses will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the Sinulog period, offering free rides along two major routes serving the northern and southern parts of the city.
One bus will ply the northern route, passing through SM City Cebu and Gaisano Mall before heading to the Basilica and looping back.
The other will serve the southern route, transporting devotees from SM Seaside City Cebu to the Basilica.
Each bus can accommodate around 35 passengers, including standing commuters.
Archival said the buses are fully electric and require no gasoline, with charging and maintenance facilities set up at the Department of General Services (DGS) area in the South Road Properties (SRP).
“Ato ni padaganon nga walay gasolina. I-charge ra gyud ni,” Archival said, adding that each unit has two dedicated drivers to ensure proper operation and maintenance.
While the service was launched for Sinulog, the mayor emphasized that the electric buses form part of the city’s long-term plan to modernize public transportation.
“Ato gyud ni i-sustain. Dili ra ni para Sinulog,” he said, noting that the city plans to add five to eight more electric buses to comply with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which requires at least 10 percent of government vehicle fleets to be electric.
The transport initiative coincided with the opening of Devotee City 2026, a temporary shelter program that provides free accommodation, food, water, and sanitation facilities for Sinulog devotees who cannot afford hotel stays.
City officials said the free e-bus service aims to ease crowd movement during the festivities while offering devotees a safer and more convenient way to reach the Basilica, reflecting Cebu’s long-standing tradition of welcoming pilgrims during Sinulog. (LLP)
