IRENE SINO-CRUZ
The Office of the Vice President held on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, the simultaneous rollout of its Libreng Sakay in the key cities, including the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
The OVP Libreng Sakay is also available in Metro Manila, Davao City and Bacolod City.
Atty. Connie Lim, manager of the OVP Region 7 office, said one bus has been allocated for Cebu but another bus may be made available in the future, depending on the need.
The bus will be going around its routes during peak hours as determined by the traffic officials of the three cities, Atty. Lim said.
Atty. Connie Lim (right), Manager of the Office of the Vice President in Region VII, and Maritoni Corominas (left) OVP-7 Disaster Manager, showing the bus that will be used for the program.
The bus will be serving commuters in Cebu City on Wednesdays and Thursdays along the route starting from SM Seaside City Cebu then passing through N. Bacalso Ave, Osmeña Boulevard, Capitol, Escario Street and then Cebu I.T. Park and vice versa. The free bus service will be operating between 6:00 A.M to 9:00 AM and resumes at 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
The interior of the OVP Libreng Sakay Bus
The OVP will provide free bus rides to commuters in Mandaue City on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., and from 7:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.
The Mandaue City route starts at Jagobiao (Total gasoline station) going along the national highway, left turn to A.C. Cortes, right turn to B.B. Cabahug, left turn to A. Del Rosario, left turn to S.B. Cabahug, left turn to A.C. Cortes, right turn to M.C. Briones and straight back to Jagobiao.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the OVP free bus rides will be available on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. The route will be from MEPZ 1 passing through Mactan, So-ong, Marigondon, Panas, Cordova, Babag, Lapu-Lapu Public Market and back to MEPZ 1.
According to Lim, the OVP Region 7 office started operations on July 1, 2022 to provide various assistance for medical and burial expenses for the indigent. The medical assistance includes hospitalization costs and medicine expenses.
She explained that they have already made representations with the government-run hospitals in Cebu with regards to the medical assistance that will be paid by the OVP. They are now getting in touch with private hospitals for similar arrangements.
Those who need medical assistance are required to submit supporting documents for their application for assistance such as certification from the barangay captain where they reside as will as medical abstract. These documents will be sent for approval to the Office of the Vice President in Manila.
Atty. Lim, however, explained that the OVP may give assistance to cash-strapped individuals during medical emergencies even if they are not classified as indigents, but would need approval from their Manila office.
The OVP Region 7 is also implementing livelihood assistance in the form of start-up capital but they are required to undergo skills training with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other government agencies that also offer similar trainings, she added.
