ZAMBOANGA CITY — The local government here is planning to purchase 15 shuttle buses in a bid to introduce mass transport serving the airport, seaport and the integrated bus terminal (IBT), as well as other parts of the city.
Cesar Raz, assistant city administrator, said each bus will have a 35-seat capacity and will be equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, television, air-conditioning and internet access.
Raz said the buses will have a loop service route with designated bus stops at the IBT, airport, seaport, junction of Barangay Lunzuran, San Bernardino Bridge in Guiwan, Sta. Cruz Commercial Complex, Barangay Sta. Maria, Governor Camins Ave., Western Mindanao State University, and Barangay Tetuan.
“We are doing this to make our visitors comfortable,” he said, noting that the buses are not meant to compete with public utility jeeps (PUJs).
He said the fare for each passenger will be PHP18 and payment will be through a card system.
The introduction of a mass transport system, he said, would help reduce the number of vehicles on the streets as those who own vehicles would be encouraged to take the bus instead.
He said the bus that would be purchased would either be solar-powered or by Euro 4 type of gasoline, which is eco-friendly.
The local government would need PHP40 million to push through with the project.
Raz said the mass transport system is also in line with the national government’s move to modernize the public transport sector. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)
