Alexander Igasan

Moh. Siddiq Eldani

Jhimcer Aripin

Transportation and Highway Engineering

Fieldwork No. 6 – Bus and Taxicabs in Zamboanga City

Modern taxicabs start operation in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY--Modern taxi units hit the city streets on Tuesday following a
ceremonial launching led by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar a day earlier.

Jerson Monteverde, Asia’s Latin City Transport Services Cooperative chairperson, said
at least 13 initial units of taxicab are now plying around the city.

Before the cooperative's entry into the local transport scene, Zamboanga City was the
only highly urbanized city without taxicabs and is dependent on tricycles and public
utility jeepneys.

Monteverde said all taxi units are brand new and equipped with Uber apps, adding their
drivers have also been trained on personal hygiene.

The flag down rate is PHP40 with additional PHP13.50 for the first kilometer and PHP2
per minute thereafter.

Engr. Emmanuel Vertucio, chairperson of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives

under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), said the entry of the taxicabs is a
testament to the continued progress and development of the city.
Vertucio and Eduardo Montealto, Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) regional director, also graced the launching of the taxi operation on Monday.

In 2000, Monteverde’s group tried to operate taxicabs here but only for a brief period
after losing their franchise for failure to update their outmoded fleet.

Monteverde said that with their brand-new taxicabs, the cooperative aims to provide
safe, reliable, affordable and environment-friendly public transportation to the
public. (PNA)

Modern Buses start operation in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY--The city government is set to resume operations of the Integrated

Bus Terminal (IBT) to accept passengers from different entry points starting January
next year.

The IBT stopped operation upon the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine
(ECQ) in March this year because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Derek Evangelista, IBT chief, said Monday the resumption of trips between this city and
the various cities and provinces in the region and other parts of Mindanao is tentatively
scheduled for January 16.

Evangelista said he already conferred with local officials of various cities and provinces
in the region to discuss the opening of this city’s border for inter-provincial travel, adding
that he also met with the officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board (LTFRB) to discuss on the matter.

Public utility vehicle operators such as the Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI), he
added, have also been briefed on travel guidelines such as passenger fares, time of
travel, and curfew hours.

This city's existing 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew hours have recently been shortened from 10
p.m. to 3 a.m. for the “misa de gallo or “simbang gabi.”

Evangelista said that the initial plan for inter-provincial travel involves a point-to-point
system, where buses would not be allowed to make stops along the way.

Passengers will also be required to secure Covid-19 test results and other needed
travel documents to allow exit and entry into this city, he added. (PNA)