BACOLOD City – The city government here is providing “Libre Sakay” for healthcare and essential services workers since Sept. 14.
All forms of public transport here are suspended from Sept. 8 to 30. The city is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) due to rising local cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
For each day, under the “Libre Sakay” program, there are 48 drivers plying the city with seven point-to-point jeepney routes and each driver is expected to ply 10 round-trips per day along one assigned route assigned by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office.
The seven take-off points were set at the barangays of Granada, Estefania, Bata, Banago, Sum-ag, Handumanan, and Mansilingan.
There are 10 departure times from each take-off point, starting from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and with two-hour interval each with the public plaza as central drop-off point.
According to Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the “Libre Sakay” program aims to address the suspension of public transportation in Bacolod.
A total of 96 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers who have worked for two days under the “Libre Sakay” program received their service fee of P3,000 each from the personnel of the Department of Social Services and Development.
The total P288,000 budget for the service fee of 96 PUJ drivers were donated by friends and supporters of the mayor.
The city government will shoulder the service fee of the drivers only starting Sept. 16 after completing some requirements. (With a report from PIA/PN)
