DBM allocates P1.28-B for continuation of ‘Libreng Sakay’

MANILA: After the approval of the P5.268-trillion national budget for this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday guaranteed commuters that free rides on the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway system would resume after being suspended in December last year due to funding issues.

According to DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, P1.285 billion has been allocated to the government's Service Contracting program under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) budget this year under Republic Act 11936, also known as the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 General Appropriations Act.

The Service Contracting program, which gives way to the resumption of the Libreng Sakay, offers free bus rides to the public, including the bus riders along EDSA.

Pangandaman acknowledged the importance of free rides to Filipino commuters.

“We understand the plight of our commuting public and so President Bongbong Marcos gave us a directive to do our part, and to exert our best to help ease their burden. The Service Contracting Program, which funds Libreng Sakay, is a big help,” she said.

Pangandaman added that saving money on transportation costs greatly improves the quality of life of Filipinos. “Whatever amount they save daily, they can reallocate to equally or more important needs such as budget for food, electricity, tuition fee, among others,” she stated.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III previously said that the Libreng Sakay program will resume if they receive the funding from the DBM.

The Libreng Sakay, which was introduced during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is a collaborative program of the DOTr and LTFRB to help commuters facing rising prices of essential products and services.

The LTFRB reported that as of December 27 last year, 164,966,373 passengers have benefited from the Libreng Sakay program along EDSA.

The Libreng Sakay program also benefits the onboarded public utility bus (PUB) units on the EDSA Busway Route because it offers financial support to transport service providers through performance-based payouts.

The Libreng Sakay program was originally scheduled to conclude on July 31, 2022 but President Marcos extended the free bus ride program until December 2022.

Photo from  Department of Transportation

Also read: LTFRB announces fare matrix for EDSA Busway