A provincial transport support program meant to improve commuter reliability is being pushed for launch by mid-May, but final legal and coordination requirements remain unresolved.
Cebu Province is aiming to roll out its Tabang Pambyahe initiative before May 15, pending completion of revisions to its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and approval from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Elizar Sabinay of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) said the agreement must still pass through a committee hearing before the governor can sign it.
“SP for a committee hearing para ma resolution will be passed authorizing the governor to sign the MOA,” Sabinay said.
He added that the province is still working within a tight timeline despite delays in the documentation process.
“So we’re targeting if not next week basta before May 15 we can start. It’s a target,” he said.
Sabinay said the delay was triggered by revisions introduced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which expanded the agreement to include the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“Medyo na-delay lang kay DOTR is adding more party… LTFRB kay crucial daw ang rules,” he said.
The revised MOA was returned for legal review, pushing back the endorsement schedule to the provincial board.
Once finalized, the document will be re-submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for authorization, with officials hoping to complete approval in the next legislative cycle.
Sabinay said implementation can begin immediately once the agreement is signed.
“Basta ma-signan lang ang MOA we can start na,” he said.
While the legal process continues, coordination with local government units across Metro Cebu is also underway, particularly on the identification of designated bus stops.
Sabinay said Metro Cebu mayors will be engaged to help finalize key transport points.
“Will be meeting Metro Cebu mayors… we would like their assistance and help para sa identification of the bus stops,” he said.
He clarified that Tabang Pambyahe is not a free ride program, but a structured provincial transport system supported by government subsidies.
“They should understand this that the Tabang Pambyahe is not free… It’s completely different. So the Tabang Pambyahe, it’s really a province rank transportation system,” Sabinay said.
He explained that the program focuses on reliability rather than fare elimination, addressing uncertainty in daily commuting.
“The problem with public transportation is not because it’s costly, it’s because it’s uncertain… The goal is not really to provide free service… but it’s to make sure there is certainty of service,” he added.
Under the plan, buses will follow fixed intervals to reduce waiting time and improve consistency of travel along major routes in Cebu.
The province has also conducted mobility surveys to identify updated bus stop locations, taking into account shifts in commuter patterns driven by new commercial and educational developments.
Sabinay said some existing stops may no longer reflect current demand, prompting a review of route alignment and stop placement.
The provincial government is now consolidating survey results and inputs from LGUs as it moves closer to final implementation. (SBA)
Photo courtesy of Pam Baricuatro
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