Pre-paid cards replace coins for passengers on MyBus

Leaders of transport groups ask LTFRB official  Reynald Elmar for a dialog to discuss the government’s  PUJ phase-out plan.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Leaders of transport groups ask LTFRB official Reynald Elmar for a dialog to discuss the government’s PUJ phase-out plan.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Free rides to SRP over; Commuters  introduced to tap-to-ride e-system

If you ride the new MyBus units to the South Road Properties (SRP), tap a card instead of reaching for coins in your wallet.

More than two weeks after it started operations, the SM MyBus liner now requires passengers to buy a prepaid card to pay for the fare.

Since  Dec. 16, the cards are being  sold at the SM City Cebu parking lot  for P200 with a  preloaded amount of P100.

The operator  Metro Rapid Transit System Inc. earlier  offered free rides until December 15 to promote the opening of the new  SM Seaside City mall in the SRP.

The entry of European-made  airconditioned buses  is giving Cebuanos their first taste of modern Wi-FI, GPS-equipped  buses that use an e-card system for payment of fare.

The bus line  is a joint venture between SM Prime Holdings Inc. and the Manila-based Jam Liner Inc.

An SM MyBus card that can be bought at the station for P200. (CDN PHOTO/MICHELL PADAYHAG)

Only three bus units have been cleared to operate for now by the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) which approved a franchise for the routes from Talisay  City to SM Seaside

City via SRP Mambaling, N. Bacalso Avenue and vice versa.

The fare is P25.Fare rates were approved last November 16.

Another four bus units arrived last  week for this route and were inspected.

LTFRB Regional Director Reyanldo Elnar said they will monitor compliance.

The LTFRB  denied the motion for reconsideration filed by  transport groups opposing the franchise application for SM MyBus units.

The December 16 order signed by Elnar found no basis for their  arguments , saying these  groups don’t qualify as providers of high quality public transport system (HQPTS).

The order also stated that every franchise is conditional and the failure to meet its requirements can be grounds for cancellation.

The protestors said there was no consultation with the transport sector before the franchise was given.

The motion was filed by the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi Purpose Cooperative (Citrasco), Visayas United Drivers Transport and Allied Services Cooperative (VUDTRASCO) and Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association (MCTOA).

Pending applications for franchises cover several routes.

Aside from the Talisay-Mambaling-SRP route for P25, there is a  12-km ride from Mandaue City to barangay Mambaling for P25.

The third route covers  Talisay City to Mandaue at 19 km for P40; Talisay to Mambaling  (11 km) and Mambaling to Mandaue (8 km) for P25.

The  route between  Talisay and the Mactan Cebu International Airport (24 kilometers) has a P75 rate.

Talisay to Mambaling (11 kilometers) is P25 and Mambaling to Mandaue (8 kilometers) is P25.

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