As an early Christmas gift to commuters, the government will roll out its expanded “Libreng Sakay” or free ride program that will now include public utility jeepneys starting Nov. 1.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said the program, which covers both EDSA Carousel buses and jeepneys, shall kick off in Metro Manila.
“It is an early Christmas gift to the riding public,” Guadiz said.
“If before, only Edsa Carousel buses were covered under the program, now the jeepneys are included,” he added.
He said the free rides will last until the end of December and will also be launched in other regions as well.
The government has allocated a P1.3-billion budget for the program under a joint circular to be released this month, Guadiz said.
After almost two years during the pandemic, the free rides service at the EDSA Carousel system ended on January 1, 2023.
The free bus ride program used to service around 320,000 to 390,000 passengers daily.
Meanwhile, transport groups Pasang Masda, BUSINA and the National Capital Region Consolidated Entities and National Federation of Transport Cooperative thanked the government for approving the P1 provisional minimum fare increase nationwide that took effect Sunday.
Pasang Masda head Roberto Martin also clarified the P1 fare increase applies to the first four kilometers only, and there is no increase for the succeeding kilometers.