‘Libreng Sakay’ to return? LTFRB hopes for free Edsa Carousel revival in 2023

FILE PHOTO: LTFRB’s official facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — It’s possible that the Edsa Bus Carousel Libreng Sakay will make a comeback this year, but the government hasn’t finalized any standards for making the service available around the clock for free.

Since January 1, 2023, buses no longer provide free rides, having ended the program on December 31, 2022.

But according to LTFRB technical division head Joel Bolano, this may not be the end for the Libreng Sakay program.

READ: ‘Libreng Sakay’ program out, Edsa Busway fares in

“Sa budget ng department nitong 2023, may nakalaan naman na budget para dito kaya lang sa ngayon, fina-finalize pa iyong guidelines ng department habang wala pa iyong budget. Pero tama kayo, baka maibalik iyong free ride kaya lang kung paano ito i-implement, wala pa tayong final guidelines ang department,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(In our 2023 budget, there’s an allocated budget for this. Right now, the guidelines are still being finalized as we still have yet to receive the funding. But you’re right. The free rides may return. However, how it will be implemented still needs to be finalized by the department.)

The Department of Transportation proposed a P12-billion budget to continue the free ride initiative in 2023, but this was scrapped by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DBM argued that the Libreng Sakay program was a “nonrecurring or a one-time expenditure item” introduced by lawmakers during the height of the pandemic.

But Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, later disclosed that in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, a total of P2.6 billion was still allocated to continue the implementation of the free ride program in various transportation modes like the Edsa Bus Carousel and other public utility vehicles.

READ: ‘Libreng Sakay’ has P2.16 billion for 2023

KGA/abc