SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Public utility buses that won’t require cash payments from passengers will soon roll out in this Freeport to provide safe and efficient travel to the riding public, especially in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has approved the proposal of Autokid Truck Solutions to field public utility buses with automated fare collection system (AFCS).

“This is an innovative concept that fulfils a felt need in this time of the pandemic, so we’re going for it,” Eisma said.

“With this, we can minimize the dangers of virus transmission, thus creating a better environment for workers, residents and visitors in the Subic Freeport,” she added, pointing out that the new buses will be compliant with Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines on social-distancing rules as well.

According to Autokid Subic Trading Corporation CEO Kevin McHale Yao, the proposed project would provide an efficient, environment-friendly, and safe and comfortable transportation for the public.

Foremost among the features of the new system is the use of loadable payment cards that would preclude the need for passengers to carry cash for their bus fare.

Yao also stressed the added advantage of predictable travel time, as the firm would regularly deploy vehicles at a certain time period so that the public would know exactly when to expect the buses.

“Public transportation services (PTS) is a vital part of modern urban economies. An efficient PTS encourages passengers to use public services instead of private vehicles,” Yao said.

“This preference reduces traffic, air and noise pollution, and accident rate in cities,” he added.

Yao also pointed out that Autokid will field environment-friendly buses that are Euro IV-compliant, using Yuchai engines. The units will have comfortable seats, air-conditioning, a global positioning system (GPS), and closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) to ensure the safety of the riding public, he said.

Autokid, a registered investor-company in Subic, which is into the trading of brand-new and used trucks, truck parts and repair services, has proposed for this project three bus routes in Subic’s Central Business District.

One will be from Kalaklan Terminal to Main Gate Terminal and vice versa, another from Main Gate Terminal to Royal Duty Free and vice versa, and the third from Main Gate Terminal to Kalaklan to Royal Duty Free to Main Gate.

The proposed fares will be P25 per person for the first two routes, and P30 per person for the third route, which is longer.

Following the approval of Autokid’s proposal last month, the SBMA had required the firm to register its fleet of motor vehicles and have its drivers accredited by the agency.

The SBMA and the company are already discussing a dry-run of the routes for which the buses will be fielded to see how the plans would actually work out.

PHOTO:

The brightly-painted Autokid public utility buses using automated fare collection system will soon roll out in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone