Priority bus rides for women, children, senior citizens and PWDs start Monday

Pink Bus (LTFRB photo)

MANILA — Women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will be given priority bus rides in certain routes beginning Monday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.

This was after RRCG Bus Inc., which plies the Quiapo-Cainta route, announced its decision to participate in the LTFRB’s Pink Project which provides priority rides for these special groups during rush hours.

LTFRB said that the PINK4 Project will officially be launched on Monday, 6am in the bus company’s depot in Taytay, Rizal. Pickup schedule will be from 4 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Expected to grace the launch of the project are heads of Philippine Commission on Women, PWDs organizations, National Youth Commission, Office of the Senior Citizens of LGUs, and government officials.

Painted in pink, the first unit of RRCG will also be driven by a bus driver clad in a pink shirt.

The bus company signified its intention to join this project after several jeepney and UV express operators also began volunteering to pick up and provide transport since last month.

Last month, 14 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying the Pateros-Guadalupe route and 16 UV express vehicles plying the Trinoma-Tandang Sora route jump-started the Pink4 project by picking up and transporting only these group of passengers.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez in a statement meanwhile encouraged other bus companies to also participate in the program.

“The Pink Bus project is proof that public transportation is ready to provide help to women, children, senior citizen, and PWDs to get to their destination and return home safely especially during the rush hours,” Ginez said.

“We are elated that RRCG Bus Inc. is participating in the PINK4 project that would greatly ease the burden of finding a convenient commuter for (these special groups),” he added.