Cebu City – A public hearing has been set for the roll out of a high quality public transport system (HQPTS) in Cebu, involving 77 new buses that will traverse so-called developmental routes in the metropolis.
 
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has approved the use of 77 buses, which will be operated by private firm Premier Southern Corp. (PSC), along the Talisay-Airport via South Road Properties developmental routes.
 
The buses will be field mainly along the South Road Properties from Talisay City towards Mactan-Cebu International Airport. These buses will serve as interim transport to supplement the Bus Rapid Transit in Cebu, which will not be operational until 2018. Each of the high-quality buses can carry 50 passengers.
 
Operating buses in the said routes was earlier proposed by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. in preparation also for the opening of the SM Seaside City Complex next year. The P8.5-billion SM Seaside City Cebu is touted to be the biggest shopping mall in the Visayas and Mindanao.
 
Although the system has already been approved by the DOTC, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) has scheduled a public hearing on October 16 to solicit feedback from bus operators and the public regarding the implementation of the bus system.
 
LTFRB-7 Director Reynaldo Elnar said the reactions that will be generated during the public hearing will be sent to the LTFRB main office in Manila for further study.
 
Of the 77 buses, eight will take the Talisay City–Mactan Airport route while 22 will take the SRP–North Bus Terminal route. About 36 buses will serve the Mandaue City–SM Seaside City route. Another 11 buses will take the Talisay City–SM Seaside City route.