Commuters queue to ride the EDSA Bus Carousel in Monumento, Caloocan City. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday announced that it has decided to implement the 24/7 free rides in Edsa bus carousel for the whole month of December.
The DOTr initially stated that the 24/7 operations were scheduled to begin on Dec. 15 until 31.
The DOTr said in a statement, the decision came following the directives of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and in response to the expected influx of passengers during the Christmas season, triggered further by the extension of mall hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Metro Manila.
“Ang inisyatibong ito ng DOTr at LTFRB ay paraan upang siguruhin na may masasakyan ang lahat ng ating mga pasahero beyond the usual operating hours sa Edsa Busway. Bukod sa hindi na nila kailangang isipin ang pamasahe, makasisiguro rin sila na mabilis ang kanilang magiging pagbyahe,” said Bautista.
(This initiative by the DOTr and LTFRB is a way to ensure that all our passengers will have a ride beyond the usual operating hours in the Edsa Busway. Aside from not having to think about the fare, they can also be sure that their commute will be fast.)
Bautista in the same statement also said that the DOTr’s Inter-Agency Council for Traffic will also ensure security within the said period.
The LTFRB is also set to issue a Board Resolution to formalize this directive to the Edsa Busway operators who are also under the Service Contracting Program of the said transportation department.
It can be recalled that on August 16, 2022, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) added P1.4 billion in funds to extend Free Rides on the EDSA Busway and also as support for the implementation of the Service Contracting Program of the DOTr and LTFRB.
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