The Makati City government has acquired six new school buses to provide free transportation for public school students in the city.
Outgoing Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said the initiative aims to address the daily commuting challenges faced by students by offering dedicated transportation services across key barangays.
This program seeks to improve school attendance, enhance student safety, and ease the financial burden on families.
“With this new initiative, we are making it easier for students to get to school safely and on time so they can focus on learning,” Binay said.
Each bus will operate on a fixed route with scheduled pick-up and drop-off points covering central barangays and school zones. The service is exclusively available to students enrolled in Makati’s public schools.
To ensure safety and efficient monitoring, students will need to present ID cards to board the buses.
Each vehicle will be equipped with a GPS tracking system that allows real-time updates and notifications for parents. Every bus will be operated by a licensed driver and supervised by a transport aide trained in child safety and basic first aid.
The city will implement the program in phases, beginning with a pilot run in selected barangays and public schools that have high student populations and face commuting difficulties.
Prior to full implementation, consultations will be held with school administrators, parent associations, and barangay officials to finalize routes and safety protocols. After evaluating the pilot phase, the program will be expanded to include all public schools in the city.
This initiative is expected to eliminate the daily commuting expenses for low-income families, reduce tardiness and absenteeism caused by unreliable or distant transport options, and promote equal access to education for students regardless of their location within the city.
