A free school bus in South Cotabato is easing families’ financial burdens, helping more than 100 children get to school every day. (Contributed Photo)
TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato โ Every school day begins the same way for Arjay Leop. Before sunrise, he climbs behind the wheel of a yellow school bus and sets out along the roads of Barangay Pulabato, driving more than 100 children to school for free.
For four years, Leop has driven the route, safely ferrying more than 100 students to and from school each day. To many families, the ride is more than a convenience. It is one less expense in a household budget stretched thin.
As a father of three school-age children, Leop knows the burden firsthand. “It makes me happy because you’re helping poor parents,” he said in Cebuano. “I’m a father, too, with children in school. Having a free bus is a huge help.”
The transportation program is a partnership between the Barangay Pulabato local government and Sagittarius Mines Inc. Under the company’s Social Development and Management Program, Sagittarius Mines covers the driver’s salary as well as the bus’s fuel and maintenance costs, allowing the service to operate throughout the school year.
Before the program began, families paid about 30 pesos for each trip. For households with two children, daily transportation costs could reach 120 pesos, an amount Leop said many families struggled to afford.
“If you have two students, that’s 120 pesos in fares every day,” he said.
For Leop, the rewards of the job extend beyond the daily routine. Some of the children he once drove have already graduated and begun careers of their own. Parents often stop to thank him when they meet.
“They always thank me,” he said. “They say, ‘Thank you very much.’ I’m proud that I’ve been able to help our community.”
He also expressed gratitude for the continued support of Sagittarius Mines, saying the program has eased the financial burden on parents while making it easier for children to attend school consistently.
“We’re very thankful to SMI for helping Pulabato,” he said. “Parents no longer have to carry such a heavy burden.”
For Sagittarius Mines, the free school bus is part of a broader effort to invest in education through its Social Development and Management Program. The company says the initiative reflects its commitment to responsible mining by supporting projects designed to deliver long-term benefits to host communities, particularly through expanded educational opportunities for young people.
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