Commuters in Cebu City need not worry about transportation disruptions as the city government rolled out free bus services starting Thursday afternoon.
This is in response to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Basyang.
City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), announced on Thursday, February 5, that the free rides will begin at 4 p.m. as part of the city’s emergency response to the storm.
Tumulak said seven buses have been deployed to serve both northern and southern routes to assist workers and residents affected by the adverse weather conditions.
According to the city government, the free bus service is being implemented through the Department of General Services to ensure safe, accessible, and reliable transportation, particularly for commuters experiencing difficulty due to heavy rain and strong winds.
All routes will use Colon Street as the central endpoint and will operate on a vice versa basis to accommodate passengers traveling in both directions.
For the south, buses will run from Bulacao to Colon via N. Bacalso Avenue, P. del Rosario Street, and Day-as, as well as from Bulacao to SM City Cebu passing through N. Bacalso, P. del Rosario, Day-as, Imus Avenue, and General Maxilom Extension.
Additional southbound routes include Labangon to Colon via Tisa, Punta, Shopwise, N. Bacalso, and P. del Rosario, and Guadalupe to Colon through Petron Guadalupe, V. Rama Avenue, Cebu City Medical Center, Emall, and Leon Kilat Street.
Northbound routes cover Panagdait to Colon via Pope John Paul II Avenue, Mabolo Church, M.J. Cuenco Avenue, and the Cebu Technological University area.
Lahug to Colon passes Gorordo Avenue, Climaco Avenue, Ramos Street, and Junquera Street.
Talamban to Colon starts from the Gemini Fuel Gas Station and passes Ban-Tal Road, Gorordo Avenue, and M.J. Cuenco Avenue.
The city government urged commuters to plan their trips accordingly and to remain cautious while traveling as weather conditions may still worsen.
As of Thursday afternoon, Cebu City remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), with possible winds ranging from 39 to 61 kilometers per hour.
In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Basyang was located about 230 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour while moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour.
The weather bureau warned that while Basyang is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur before crossing Mindanao, heavy rainfall, strong winds, and hazardous sea conditions may still be felt in Cebu and other parts of the Visayas.
Authorities advised the public to stay alert, monitor official advisories, and follow instructions from local officials as emergency response measures remain in place amid the storm. (LLP)
Photo from Cebu City PIO
