Pasig City recently inaugurated its five newly acquired electric minibuses. These vehicles will soon be serving in the city’s Libreng Sakay Program, offering free transport within the city.
Mayor Vico Sotto described the acquisition as highly timely, given the disruptions in the transport sector due to rising fuel prices stemming from the Middle East conflict. He also shared that each minibus was purchased for just under P4 million, amounting to an estimated total cost of around P20 million for the city government.
Each bus can seat 22 passengers and can accommodate an additional eight standing passengers during transit. The Libreng Sakay Program currently has one route (from Caruncho Avenue to the Temporary Pasig City Hall, and vice versa), with more routes being planned.
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Speaking on the new e-bus routes on his Facebook page, Sotto said: “We will pilot test underserved and potential PUV routes to improve the efficiency of public transport in the city. The goal is to see if these routes are feasible and have adequate demand.”
No doubt that Pasig City residents are going to look forward to the free rides on these new EVs. Here’s to hoping that other cities and areas can have initiatives similar to this to make life just a bit easier for those relying on public transit.
