BALANGA CITY — Residents from Bataan’s 11 municipalities will soon have access to free electric shuttle rides to the provincial capitol, offering a more affordable way to reach government offices as the province begins dry-run operations of its Point-to-Point Libreng Sakay Program.
Part of Bataan’s eMobility program, the service will operate on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., transporting passengers from their respective municipal halls to The Bunker in Balanga City, the seat of the provincial government.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the electric vehicles and charging stations at the Balanga Green Mobility Hub in Barangay Cabog-Cabog, Balanga City, on October 15.
He was accompanied by Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III, and other government officials, and met with program operators and drivers.
The fleet consists of 11 electric vehicles, including six Foton buses with 33 seats each and five Landking EV320 units with 25 seats each.
Passengers can board the vehicles at designated pick-up points at the municipal halls of Morong, Bagac, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, and Mariveles.
The units will travel directly to The Bunker, using the Roman Highway as the main corridor. Vehicles serving Bagac and Morong will connect to the provincial capitol through Governor J.J. Linao Road.
Detailed schedules for each route will be announced soon.
Garcia said the initiative is part of the province’s efforts to modernize transportation while making it cleaner and more accessible to residents.
“Ito po ay bahagi ng ating isinusulong na inisyatiba upang maging mas malinis at makabago ang sistema ng transportasyon sa ating Lalawigan, na layong magbigay nang mas maayos at episyenteng transportasyon para sa bawat Bataeño,” Garcia said.
The province expects the fleet to complete 89 round trips daily, covering a total of 3,090 kilometers and serving around 2,272 passengers each day.
This program is intended to benefit people visiting government offices, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and students who need transportation to the provincial capitol.
Beyond providing free rides, it is expected to reduce transport-related emissions.
The provincial government estimates that it could avoid 52,711.23 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, or about 52 metric tons and estimates an average energy cost of P22.46 per kilometer, based on an electricity rate of P5 per kilowatt-hour and a diesel price of P92 per liter.
This initiative supports the national government’s push for cleaner mobility while helping residents, particularly those from outlying municipalities, access public services in Balanga City more affordably.
The post Bataan residents to benefit from free electric shuttle service first appeared on Pampanga News Now.