PSS Saipan down to 11 school buses

The Public School System is facing a critical shortage of buses for about a month now, forcing existing buses to make three to four runs each in the morning and afternoon instead of the usual two each way.

The PSS, which needs at least 30 buses to make bus riding services run smoothly, only has 18 in its lot. On top of that, seven of those buses are down, leaving only 11 to service all students under the system and forcing buses to make more trips back and forth since the past month.

According to PSS bus team leader Steven M. Pangelinan, PSS spends an average of $15,000 per month on diesel fuel for the buses alone.

“This is just for Saipan alone and does not include Tinian and Rota, where we know that fuel is a lot more expensive,” Pangelinan said.

PSS averages bus ridership of between 1,800 to 2,500 students per day.

Pangelinan said that there could be more but because space and bus time on the road is very limited due to the recent massive shortage, students would rather have their parents bring them to and pick them up from school.

The average capacity per bus is 60. “And because we can only have a maximum of 65 students in each bus per trip, these buses are making extra trips,” said Pangelinan.

Since more stringent school bus regulations were implemented, Pangelinan said the students have been more respectful in taking care of the buses.

“We still have our hot spots such as Hopwood Junior High, Marianas High School, and Saipan Southern High School. Other than that, other schools have been following procedures and regulations,” Pangelinan said.,

He emphasized that school bus riding “is a privilege, not a right.”

He added that PSS did not have to repair upholstery for the past two years because it was not needed. However, bus repairs continue and the cost for maintenance range between $50,000 to $100,000 per year.

Of the seven buses that are currently down, Pangelinan said that five are still under warranty.

“Triple J is working very hard on repairing one bus, a 2005 model, and it will probably be out by next week,” he said.

The other two are 2000 models that no longer have warranties.

“As for the other one, the way it is right now, I would put a bullet to it,” Pangelinan said.

When asked how PSS goes about disposing old dilapidated buses, Pangelinan says they would look for recycling centers that would take them.

Currently, there are at least four buses at the PSS pupil transportation lot that do not function at all.

Pangelinan said those buses have been there for at least three years and that they are still looking for anyone who would take them.

“Three years ago, Ericco took three buses off our lot for no charge at all,” Pangelinan said. “They would usually charge us between $500 to $1,500 each to get them off our shoulders.”

Pangelinan said it would be take about two months until he can get at least four more buses fully repaired and back on the road.

“By that time, students would already be preparing for summer break,” he said.