By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — Commuters using the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) may now be able to avail of more free bus rides in going to parts of Metro Manila.
This, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) partnered with the Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines (JCISP) and Megawide Corporate Foundation, Inc. (Megawide Foundation) to launch the Serbus Project at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on Thursday.
Three air-conditioned buses will provide free shuttle services for the Lawton-Baclaran-PITX route and vice-versa; and Monumento- Edsa- Baclaran PITX and vice-versa.
The bus units will have trips at 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.
“This project of Megawide Foundation and JCISP is a good support to the PITX project of DOTr. This is a result of the collaboration among various sectors to offer better services to the public,” Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon said in a statement.
JCISP national president Domingo Roque Jr., meanwhile, said the “Serbus” initiative aims to create an accessible mode of transportation that is free of charge to the riding public.
The JCISP conducted a dry run of its free shuttle services for the PITX-Lawton and PITX-Baclaran loops prior to the official launch.
The Serbus Project was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed by the DOTr, JCISP, and Megawide Foundation last January 29.
On the other hand, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have been offering free shuttle services totaling to three bus units from the SM Mall of Asia to PITX from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, since last year.
PITX, which is the country’s first integrated and multi-modal terminal, was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte in November last year.
The landport serves as a transfer point for provincial buses from Cavite, Batangas, and in-city modes of transportation.
