Good news for daily commuters from Novaliches, Quezon City who are availing themselves of the city government’s “Libreng Sakay” (free ride) project under the QC Bus Augmentation Program.
The office of QC Mayor Joy G. Belmonte has allowed the drivers of the Five Star buses participating in the project to pick up and unload passengers in at least five more areas along their designated routes from Gen. Luis St. in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches to the Elliptical Road near the QC Hall in Diliman, and vice versa.
The free bus ride is now available for commuters boarding and getting off at the following points on their way to the QC Hall:
Gen. Luis St. corner Katipunan Ave. in Novaliches; Gen. Luis-Banahaw St. in Amparo Subdivision; Buenamar Ave.-Lourdes St., Barangay Novaliches Proper; Quirino Highway-SM City Novaliches; Quirino Highway-QC Polytechnic University/Novaliches District Hospital; Mindanao Ave.-Arty II Subdivision; Mindanao Ave.-D. Munoz St.; Mindanao Ave.-Tandang Sora Ave.; Mindanao Ave.-Montano Ramos Hospital; Mindanao Ave.-Road 16 (Pagasa side); Mindanao Ave.-Road 1 (Pagasa side); and Agham Road-Bureau of Fire Protection station.
On their return trips to Novaliches, the buses are allowed to pick up and unload passengers at QC Hall/Elliptical Road (near the National Housing Authority); North Ave.-Veterans Memorial Medical Center (main gate); Mindanao Ave. (near the VMMC Golf Course); Mindanao Ave.-Road 16; Mindanao Ave.-Metro North Hospital; Mindanao Ave.-D. Munoz St.; Mindanao Ave.-Tandang Sora Ave.; Mindanao Ave.-Barangay Sauyo footbridge; Mindanao Ave.-Quirino Highway; QC Polytechnic University/Novaliches District Hospital; SM City Novaliches; and Austria St., Novaliches Proper, before reaching the terminal at Gen. Luis St.
The city government launched the “Libreng Sakay” project in cooperation with the Barangay Council of Nagkaisang Nayon, District 5, Novaliches for the benefit of the commuting public.
Feliciano “Sonny” Dela Cruz, chairman of barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, said the Quezon City Hall has contracted air-conditioned buses from the Five Star transportation company to provide free ride to commuters from the corner of Gen. Luis St. and Katipunan/SB Road in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon to Quezon City Hall in Diliman.
Initially, there were only eight designated points where the buses could pick up or unload passengers.
Dela Cruz reminded the commuters to always observe the minimum health protocols and wear face mask and face shield.
According to the office of Belmonte, the free ride project for commuters from Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon to the QC Hall and vice versa is part of the Quezon City Bus Augmentation Program to provide free transportation for the people of QC.
The seven other routes under the program covering main roads in the city are: Quezon City Hall to Cubao (and vice versa); Litex / IBP Road to Quezon City Hall (and vice versa); Welcome Rotonda to Aurora Blvd. / Katipunan Ave. (and vice versa); Mindanao Ave. cor. Quirino Highway to Quezon City Hall (and vice versa); Quezon City Hall to Robinsons Magnolia (and vice versa); Quezon City Hall to Ortigas Ave. Extension (and vice versa); and Quezon City Hall to Muñoz (and vice versa). (PNA)