Bus companies from Metro Manila and Mindanao are seeking to operate point-to-point (P2P) bus services in Cebu.
Ube Express, Inc., a unit of Airfreight 2100, Inc. (AIR21) of the Lina Group, and Pabama Corp., a bus line founded in Kibawe, Bukidnon and the first to introduce double-decker vehicles in Mindanao, submitted qualification documents on March 22, 2019 to apply for the authority to operate Premium Point-to-Point Bus Services in Cebu.
A resolution passed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Qualification Committee on May 30, 2019 endorsed the qualification documents of the two companies to the LTFRB regional office in Central Visayas (LTFRB 7).
According to the LTFRB resolution, Ube Express and Pabama are both seeking to operate Package 6, or the Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City route with special stop in Mandaue City.
Pabama also wants to operate Packages 7 and 8, the Cebu City to Danao City route and Cebu City to Sibonga town route, respectively.
Under the implementing guidelines contained in a Memorandum Circular issued in March 2019, the one-way fare for Package 6 (Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City) will be P80 and a total of 20 units will be authorized to ply this route, which has an estimated length of 20.5 kilometers.
Package 7, or Cebu City to Danao City in northern Cebu, will have special stops in Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela. The one-way fare will be P315 and there will be 45 authorized units for this 78.8-kilometer route.
Package 8 is from Cebu City to Sibonga town in southern Cebu, about 75 kilometers, with special stops in Talisay City, Minglanilla, Naga City, San Fernando and Carcar City. One-way fare would be P300 and there will also be 45 authorized units.
Ube Express, which currently operates an Airport Premium Bus Service at all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is also seeking to operate a P2P service between Iloilo City and the Iloilo International Airport.
These routes were among the 28 routes, covered by 16 franchise packages, that were opened by the LTFRB in August 2018.
A package will be awarded to one applicant and an applicant may be awarded several packages.
Each bus should be air-conditioned, with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, free WiFi, vehicle tracking system, and automatic fare collection system, among others. Drivers would be receiving a salary, not a compensation based on ridership. (Ventures Cebu)
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