FREE RIDE NO MORE / JUNE 30, 2021
Passengers queue to ride the EDSA Bus Carousel in Monumento, Caloocan City on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Passengers are calling on the government to extend the Libreng Sakay Program as the Bayanihan As One Act end its effectiveness on June 30, prompting the DOTr and LTFRB to suspend its Service Contracting and Free Ride Program starting July 1.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Service Contracting Program Phase 3 and free rides began Monday, April 11, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.
In a statement on Sunday, the LTFRB said that the program will continue under the 2022 General Appropriations Act wherein it has an allocation of P7 billion.
“Muling ilulunsad ng Department of Transportation (DOTr)… ang Service Contracting Program Phase 3 sa Lunes ika-11 ng Abril 2022, na may layuning matulungan ang mga kababayan nating operator, driver, at commuter na patuloy na naapektuhan ang kita dahil sa pandemya at patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina,” the LTFRB said.
(The Department of Transportation will relaunch the Service Contracting Program Phase 3 on Monday, April 11, with an objective to help operators, drivers, and commuters who are still affected by the pandemic and continuous oil prices.)
Under the Service Contracting Program, operators and drivers will receive benefits based on the number of trips they made per week.
Also included in the program are the free rides for commuters.
“Makakaasa po ang ating mga kababayan na babalik po itong libreng sakay. Hindi lamang po sa National Capital Region kundi sa Luzon, sa Visayas, at sa Mindanao,” Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said in a Laging Handa public briefing Monday.
(Our fellow Filipinos can expect that the free rides will return. Not only in the National Capital Region but also in other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.)
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