QC finalizes free bus ride for residents

By Rio A. Araja

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte is expecting more citizens to benefit from the Q City Bus Program after the program was institutionalized through an ordinance that was recently approved.

The current Q City Bus Program is now a part of the implemented programs of the city government-managed public transport system after Belmonte signed Ordinance No. SP-3184, S-2023, introduced by Councilors Alfred Vargas and Ram Medalla.

“Now that we have cemented the program through the passage of an ordinance, I am hoping that many of our Qcitizens would benefit,” she said.

In 2020, the local government launched the free transportation service to QCitizens amid the COVID-19 pandemic that restricted public transportation in the National Capital Region to limit the movement of the people.

Since then, the program has catered to more than 14.6 million passengers along eight routes.

“The program has significantly helped our citizens reduce their daily transportation expenses, especially so when prices of commodities also went up,” Belmonte said.

Under the Ordinance, the Transportation and Management Division of the Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department shall supervise the operation and further development of the Q City Bus Program.

CLEANUP. Members of the Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) conduct a regular clean-up of the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach in Roxas Boulevard on the eve of World Environment Day along on June 4. Norman Cruz