GenSan to offer free rides anew next month

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Around 500 residents here will get free public transport rides on selected routes in the entire month of September,  in line with the city government’s annual treat dubbed “Libreng Sakay Para Sa Mga Heneral.”

Restituto Facurib Jr., city terminal manager, said Thursday that at least 35 transport groups and companies operating in the city have signified an intention to participate in the activity, which will mainly offer free bus and van rides.

Facurib said the formal launching will be on Sept. 1, the birthday of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, and the start of the city’s week-long Tuna Festival.

Facurib said commuting residents to Koronadal City will have a chance to avail of free bus and passenger van rides from the city’s Bulaong terminal until the end of the month.

Yellow Bus Line Inc. will raffle free passes daily to passengers of their air-conditioned units going to Koronadal.

He said bus firm Mindanao Star will offer two bus trips while a group of passenger van operators will utilize eight units for the free rides on the same route on Sept. 1.

Passenger vans plying to various routes in Sarangani and South Cotabato will open one free pass for all their trips on the same day, he said.

“The free passes for the bus rides will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis,” Facurib said in a radio interview.

For the passenger vans, he said passengers celebrating their birthdays within the month of September would be prioritized for the free seats. Participating operators and drivers will have the option to raffle the free seats if there are no birthday celebrators among the passengers, he said.

The city government has been offering the free transport rides in the last several years to celebrate the birthday of Mayor Rivera. The initiative is spearheaded by the city terminal division of the City Administrator’s Office, in partnership with transport companies and associations.

“This is purely voluntary on the part of the participating bus companies and transport groups. The city government is not spending anything for the activity,” Facurib said. (PNA)