Laguna LGUs offer free ride for front liners, residents

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna –– Some local governments in Laguna started offering free rides for front liners and residents this week amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Los Baños residents can now buy their supplies without having to walk long distances starting Wednesday, as the municipal government would provide free rides using electric tricycles with designated pick-up and drop-off points.

In Biñan City, the government started giving free point-to-point transport services to health and emergency workers Tuesday using select private vehicles.

The city government of San Pablo is also giving free rides to residents to and from specified pick-up and drop-off points.

“Only 10 persons are allowed to board per jeepney because of social distancing,” said Ferdinand Eusebio, 34, a local.

Angel Gesmundo, 28, another local said the free ride service in their village was organized.

“It was smooth. On my first try last week, I was able to go downtown twice. We were given two hours to do our errands,” she said.

However, two hours is not enough for those buying from the grocery store or pharmacy because of the long lines, she added.

Several villages in San Pablo City also set up small temporary markets in their areas to prevent crowding in the city’s public market, and to minimize the movement of people from one village to another.

Edited by LZB