The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced the return of “Libreng Sakay” (Free Rides) this November, presenting an early Christmas gift for commuters. LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III revealed this welcome news in a press briefing held on October 9.
Commuters will soon be able to avail free rides along the EDSA Bus Carousel and select jeepney routes operated by a cooperative.
This initiative is part of the Service Contracting Program, initially introduced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operators and drivers participating in the program receive payments based on the kilometers they travel, regardless of whether they have passengers or not.
The previous round of free rides for EDSA Carousel commuters concluded on December 31, 2022, due to budget constraints.
READ: No Budget for Libreng Sakay in 2023
However, the program is set to be reinstated in November and will extend until the end of the year, thanks to an allocation of PHP1.3 billion for the initiative.
The reinstatement will begin in Metro Manila, with plans to continue through December 31 or at least the first week of January, utilizing additional funds from the savings of the Department of Transportation.
Guadiz assures commuters that from November until December, LTFRB are looking to secure additional funds from DOTr’s savings to sustain the free ride until December 31, or at least the first week of January.
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