Angara belies claims Libreng Sakay ends in 2023: Approved budget has provisions for it

Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance. Senate PRIB file photo / Voltaire Domingo

MANILA, Philippines — The national government’s free ride or Libreng Sakay program would not end in 2023 because the approved General Appropriations Act (GAA) has allocated funding for it, Senator Sonny Angara said on Friday.

Angara, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, explained in a statement that there are certain items that would ensure the continuous implementation of the Libreng Sakay, which includes free rides for public transportation modes like the Edsa carousel and other public utility vehicles.

The senator pointed out that a total of P2.16 billion was placed under the PUV Service Contracting Program, which was approved by the bicameral conference committee early December, including the P1.285 billion in programmed appropriations and another P875 million under unprogrammed appropriations.

“The Libreng Sakay program has benefited hundreds of thousands of our commuters, who have been clamoring for its continuation as a way to ease their burden from the rising costs of fuel and basic goods and commodities,” Angara said.

“These days every peso counts and whatever little savings that could be realized is highly appreciated,” he added.

Angara noted that it is important for the government to continue the free ride program because it is a big help to workers and commuters who move along Metro Manila and other key cities — especially since prices of goods have continued to rise.

“Malaking bagay ang pagpapatuloy ng Libreng Sakay sa panahon na ito lalo na at mabigat pa din ang pasanin ng karamihan ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin,” Angara said.

(Libreng Sakay is a big help during these times especially that our people are burdened by the rising prices of commodities.)

“Dapat lang natin siguraduhin na sapat ang mga bus na maghahatid sa ating mga mananakay para hindi maipon ang mga pila at makarating ng maayos ang pasahero sa kanilang mga destinasyon,” he added.

(Let’s just make sure that there are sufficient number of buses that will ferry our commuters to their destinations and there would not be long queues of people wanting to ride the bus.)

Angara said based on the Department of Budget and Management data, from September 1 to December 31, 2022, there were 628 buses contracted to service the Edsa Busway Route, accommodating around 50 million passengers.

Aside from Edsa, the Libreng Sakay program also benefits other commuters.

Rumors about the Libreng Sakay program at the Edsa carousel ending in 2023 came to surface after the the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that payments would be required starting January 1, 2023.

READ: Goodbye Libreng Sakay: EDSA Carousel free ride ending by yearend 

However, last December 5, after the bicameral conference committee approved the then-proposed 2022 General Appropriations Bill, Angara and his counterpart Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co assured the public that there would be allocations to subsidize the Libreng Sakay.

RELATED STORIES:

Bicam vows funding for Libreng Sakay, social aid, PhilHealth 

Congress must realign funds to continue ‘Libreng Sakay’ scheme in 2023 – lawmaker

JPV