Cebu City introduces a complimentary transportation service for late-night employees.
Cebu City is set to offer a free night shuttle service for employees working the graveyard shift, particularly targeting those in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology (IT) sectors. The service, which runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., aims to provide a safer and more reliable transportation option during late hours when workers are vulnerable to petty crimes[1][2].
The shuttle operates daily from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., offering two main routes - one serving the north and the other the south of the city with one bus allocated per route. Key stops on the north route include Barangay Talamban and Cebu Business Park, while the south route services I.T. Park and Metro Colon. Additional stops along these routes include JY Square, Capitol, Fuente Osmeña, Harrison Park, and Abellana[1][3][4].
The program, part of Mayor Nestor Archival's and Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña's efforts under the "Mayor of the Night" program, aims to provide safe, convenient, and free transportation for night-shift employees, reducing their exposure to risks such as hold-ups during late-night commutes[1][2].
The service started with a pilot phase involving limited buses. The city plans to potentially expand routes and involve private sector support by asking local businesses to fund additional buses to sustain and grow the program. There are intentions to simplify fare collection by moving to a subscription model for regular passengers in the future[1][4].
The initiative for the revival of the free bus rides for employees working between midnight and 6 a.m. was due to a resolution approved by the Cebu City Council on June 26, 2024, authored by Mayor Nestor Archival. The free night bus service was first launched by Cebu City in 2018 but was discontinued due to a change in administration[1][5].
The Cebu City Council's resolution cites a Philippine Information Agency report stating that Cebu has the highest number of BPO-IT employees in the Visayas. The service is aimed at employees working graveyard shifts, particularly those in the BPO-IT sector, and is designed to avoid disrupting existing jeepney operations[1][6].
The "Mayor of the Night" program was conceptualized under Vice Mayor Tomas Osmenña. This free night bus service is a significant step towards protecting workers from petty crimes during late-night commutes and improving accessibility to government and commercial services during late hours[1][2].
References: [1] SunStar Cebu. (2024, June 27). Cebu City to offer free night shuttle service for workers. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1929940 [2] ABS-CBN News. (2024, June 27). Cebu City to relaunch free night bus service for workers. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/27/24/cebu-city-to-relaunch-free-night-bus-service-for-workers [3] Cebu Daily News. (2024, June 27). Cebu City's free night shuttle service routes. Retrieved from https://www.cebudailynews.inquirer.net/350114/cebu-citys-free-night-shuttle-service-routes [4] Philstar.com. (2024, June 27). Cebu City's free night shuttle service operational notes. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2024/06/27/2173938/cebu-citys-free-night-shuttle-service-operational-notes [5] GMA News Online. (2024, June 27). Cebu City's free night bus service to support BPO-IT workers. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/regional/visayas/758065/cebu-citys-free-night-bus-service-to-support-bpo-it-workers/story/ [6] Manila Bulletin. (2024, June 27). Cebu City Council approves resolution for free night bus service. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2024/06/27/cebu-city-council-approves-resolution-for-free-night-bus-service/
- The revived free night bus service in Cebu City specifically targets employees in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology (IT) sectors, aiming to offer a safer transportation option during graveyard shifts and reduce their exposure to petty crimes.
- Under the "Mayor of the Night" program, the Cebu City government is collaborating with local businesses to potentially expand routes for the free night shuttle service and sustain the program through the contribution of additional buses.
- In order to simplify fare collection for regular passengers in the future, the city plans to move to a subscription model for the free night shuttle service.
- The start of the free night shuttle service is a significant step towards improving accessibility to both government and commercial services in Cebu City during late hours, while enhancing the safety of employees working in the BPO-IT industry.
- Cebu City, known for having the highest number of BPO-IT employees in the Visayas, is set to offer a free night shuttle service that services key stops such as Barangay Talamban, Cebu Business Park, I.T. Park, and Metro Colon, with plans to potentially expand routes in the future.
