Makati transport groups offer free rides, discount to studentsNathaniel R. Melican

Students in Makati are in for a treat Monday as transport groups in the city will offer free rides or discounts to welcome the opening of the new school year.

Nerio Duka, president of the Unified Transportation Federation of Makati (UTFM), which is composed of jeepney operators and drivers in the city, announced that their members would offer free rides to students from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On the other hand, Alberto Galisim, head of the Ang Bagong Makati Tricycle Federation (Abmatrifed), a group of tricycle drivers and operators, said that students would get a P1 discount from

6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The two leaders said that the one-day incentives were their way of supporting the Makati City government’s efforts in prioritizing education.

For his part, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. lauded the two groups for their initiative.

“We thank the UTFM and Abmatrifed for coming up with these initiatives that will bring much relief to students on the opening of classes on Monday,” he said in a statement.

At the same time, students enrolled in the city’s public schools will receive other benefits throughout the school year such as free groceries, he added.

Binay explained that the free groceries, which would be distributed soon, was the city’s counterpart in the national government’s Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

Earlier, the city government also gave away free school supplies, workbooks, bags and even school uniforms to students.