BAGUIO CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the Cordillera has announced that health workers in the city can now avail of free rides starting Tuesday (April 27).
In the Regional Office Order 002-2021 issued by OIC Regional Director Engr. Lalaine Sobremonte dated April 26, it said the LTFRB will be opening routes “for free rides in Baguio City in the implementation of the service contracting program for PUVs (public utility vehicles) offering free rides to medical health workers.”
The order sets the guidelines for the giving of free rides to medical health workers covering 12 routes utilizing 43 modernized jeepneys, utility van express, and tourist transport service vans that will give 24 hours free rides starting 6:00 a.m. on April 27.
The free rides will accommodate all health care workers including medical professionals, utility workers in medical centers/clinics/hospitals, and auxiliary workforce in the health industry.
To avail of the free rides, they must present their identification card to the marked modernized jeepney units which will be traversing the city’s main thoroughfares including areas of the different health facilities in the city.
The routes will pass the different hospitals like Pines City Doctors Hospital (PCDH), Baguio Medical Center (BMC), Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), Benguet General Hospital going to the different villages as far as Irisan, Navy Base, Gibraltar, Dominican, Quarry, Fairview, Lamtang Road, La Trinidad, Bakakeng, Dontogan, Marcos highway, Camp 7, Atok Trail, Trancoville, Aurora Hill and others.
The LTFRB said they will also be launching free rides in other provinces and areas in the Cordillera region.
While this city is currently under General Community Quarantine, the city government has imposed a curfew from midnight to 4:00 a.m. of the following day, which also prompts public utility vehicles like jeepneys and taxis to stop operation.
Carla, a nurse in one of the hospitals, said she is fetched by her brother in going home late at night due to the difficulty of getting a ride.
“The free ride will be a convenience. I can do my job without always having to burden family members to fetch or to bring me to work. This is very helpful.” she said in Ilocano. **Liza Agoot, PNA
