Bus trips to Baguio resume

BACK ON ROAD Victory Liner Inc. has begun accepting passengers for its bus trips on a scaled-back capacity. —EV ESPIRITU

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — Three buses were dispatched on Saturday by Victory Liner Inc. (VLI) for its Baguio-Cubao route, signaling the resumption of provincial bus operation here nine months after it was forced to stop due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the buses carried 13 passengers who were required to submit health documents prior to boarding, according to Rosemary Vargas, VLI triage officer.

Other buses allowed to travel would only accommodate 50 percent of their carrying capacity based on regulations of the city government.

Cubao, Olongapo trips

Victory Liner has three trips for its Baguio-Cubao-Baguio routes, with departures at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for Cubao, and at 5 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for Baguio.The company also resumed its Baguio-Olongapo-Baguio route on Sunday with departure at 9 a.m. for Baguio, and 10 a.m. for Olongapo.

Travel authority, medical certicate and a valid government-issued identication card are among the documentary requirements.

Passengers must also test negative for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or rapid antigen test within 72 hours before boarding.

Two other bus companies—Philippine Rabbit and Rising Sun—are also expected to resume their operations but with strict health protocols.

—EV Espiritu