Metropolitan Manila Development Authority inspects the EDSA Busway Carousel – Monumento Station in Quezon City on Friday, September 23. (File photo courtesy of MMDA Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Libreng Sakay (free ride) for Edsa Bus Carousel and jeepneys will return this November until the end of this year, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced on Monday.
According to LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III, the joint circular for releasing the P1.3 billion fund for the service contracting program has been approved.
The deal covers government’s free ridership program.
The particular vehicles offering free rides will ply across National Capital Region, and not just along Edsa.
“Ibabalik po natin ang libreng sakay. Uunahin po natin ang Metro Manila, kasama po ang jeepneys,” Gadiz said in a press conference.
(We are going to revive free rides first in Metro Manila, including jeepneys.)
“Kung dati po, hanggang sa mga bus sa Edsa Carousel, ngayon pati mga jeepneys,” Guadiz said in a press conference.
(If before, it only included the buses at Edsa Carousel, now, it covers the jeepneys as well.)
“Yung P1.3 billion, tapos na po yung joint memorandum circular. Ibaba na po ang pera,” Gadiz revealed.
(That P1.3 billion, the joint memorandum is already finished. The money will be handed over.)
“Ang hinahabol namin ngayong November [at] December, yun po ang maagang pamaskong handog ng LTFRB,” he said.
(We are chasing for November and December, the early Christmas gift provided by LTFRB.)
The first phase of Libreng Sakay program was implemented during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020.
It reached a third phase that lasted in June 30 this year.
Despite the program’s official end on June 30, free rides along the bus routes called Edsa Busway Carousel extended until July 31.
During the third phase, the program covered over 900 routes.
It also used more than 16,500 units.
The program involved over 700 operators and cooperatives as well.
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