KIDAPAWAN CITY – Jeepney and multi-cab passenger vehicles are giving free rides to health front-liners in M’lang, North Cotabato, a transport group leader said.
Pompeo Jubelag Jr., president of the M’lang Transport Cooperative (Matransco), said Tuesday the free ride services are the association’s contribution to the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on top of strictly observing the minimum health protocols.
“Just show your identification document (ID) to the driver and enjoy the free ride,” Jubelag told reporters here, referring to commuting front-liners.
He said at least 25 passenger jeepneys and multi-cabs are participating in the program aimed at easing the burden of front-liners who travel daily from home to hospitals and other medical facilities in the adjoining towns of Tulunan, M’lang, and Matalam.
The “libreng sakay” begins at 5 a.m. and lasts until 7 p.m.
In a phone interview, Cedric Apatan, a male nurse from M’lang, North Cotabato welcomed the move of the jeepney drivers and operators to provide them with free rides.
“This is huge,” he said of the free ride.
Apatan said he pays an average of PHP100 a day for fare from his home to the hospital where he works in an adjacent town.
“Thank you so much, your goodness will bear more good actions. You will be rewarded for this later on,” he said.
He said the Yellow Bus units that also offer free rides to front-liners are sometimes delayed, so a jeepney or multi-cab public transport vehicle is an option for them
Source: Philippines News Agency
