Hybrid buses unveiled in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - At least five units of state-of-the-art buses were unveiled yesterday as one of the highlights in the opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-Transportation Ministerial meetings in Cebu.

Transportation and communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya led the inspection of “My bus.”

Abaya said he was impressed with the mass transit’s advanced features which include ramps for persons with disabilities, among others.

“Ito ang mas modelong bus na nararapat sa atin, mas maganda, comfortable and efficient mode of transportation,” he said after the inspection.

Six buses, one will arrive today, will service APEC delegates and will be on a test-run this month.

A total of 77 buses are coming to service or ply four routes in Metro Cebu: Talisay-Mambaling, Talisay-North Bus Terminal, Talisay-Mactan Cebu Airport and North Bus Terminal-Mambaling.

These routes are considered developmental routes given that these are encompassing areas that are yet to be served by public transport.

Thirty-one of the My Bus will fully operate next month in time for the soft opening of SM Seaside at the South Road Properties. Other units are expected to arrive next year.

The bus has a total length of 13.7 meters and three axles, 610 mm floor height and with two doors at 900 mm wide. It can accommodate a maximum of 90 passengers. The buses are manufactured by Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Dow car.

It is an interim transport to supplement the Bus Rapid Transit, which would be operational in 2018.

According to Rico Villalona, General Manager for My Bus Operations, said the buses are the country’s first Euro V mass transport system, which is environment-friendly.

It only emits 30-percent less carbon dioxide emission, and 90-percent less particulate emission than a Euro 1 bus, an urban-class bus using a standard European Diesel Fuel with 330ppm (parts per million) of sulfur content.

The bus stations will have an operational passenger information system displaying real time bus schedules. The project, which is the third phase of the Cebu-BRT project, costs SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Premier Southern Corporation over P1 billion.

 Marissa Fernan, SM Prime Holdings’ vice president, said the buses are for the convenience of the general public with prepared fares. The bus has electronic ticketing system-smart cards.

However, for one to ride the hybrid bus he/she must have an e-PLUS Tap to Pay Card. Just tap each time you board. The card, which is reloadable at a maximum of P100, can also be used for cinemas and other services.

To avail the e-card, visit the E-Plus Card Booth at the 3rd level, SM Cinema in SM City Cebu and at the 2nd level of SM City Consolacion or simply fill out the electronic form at www.eplus.ph. Card will be issued on site upon completion of the application process.

The bus interval time is nine minutes during peak hours and five minutes during regular hours. The fare ranges from P25, P40 to P75. However, the fare is still subject to public consultation on October 16 at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office.

Fernan said this will help ease the worsening traffic problem in Metro Cebu.

“You’ll going to save time, more convenient, and less traffic to be experienced,” she said, adding that buses will only traverse “unserved” and “strategic” routes in the manner that the route has not been served yet by public transport.  (FREEMAN)