Free rides on LRT 1 and 2, MRT 3 on Dec. 20

MANILA, Philippines — Commuters using the LRT lines 1 and 2 and the MRT 3 may enjoy free train rides on Friday, December 20, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced.

Free rides will be available for the whole duration of train operations.

“Tinatayang aabot sa 1.1 milyong pasahero ang sasakay sa mga linyang ito — ang pinakamataas na ridership na naitala ngayong taon,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

(It is estimated that around 1.1 million passengers will ride these lines — the highest ridership recorded this year.)

“Ang inisyatibong ito ay isang simpleng paraan upang maibsan ang gastos ng ating mga kababayang abala sa paghahanda para sa Pasko. Nawa’y magdulot ito ng ginhawa at maramdaman ng lahat ang malasakit ng pamahalaan ngayong kapaskuhan,” he added.

(This initiative is a simple way to ease the expenses of our fellow citizens busy preparing for Christmas. May it bring relief and allow everyone to feel the government’s care this holiday season.)

The free train rides were offered to accommodate the anticipated increase in passengers on the last Friday before Christmas Day.

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The Office of the President (OP) will subsidize the free rides, said Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez.

“Ibig sabihin, kung magkano ang dapat revenue ng LRMC sa Line 1, LRTA sa Line 2 at DOTr sa MRT3 sa araw na ito ay babayaran sa kanila ng OP,” he said in a Viber message to Palace reporters.

(This means that whatever revenue the LRMC for Line 1, the LRTA for Line 2, and the DOTr for MRT3 should have earned on this day will be paid to them by the OP.)

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