Libreng Sakay back in November or December, to cover jeepneys – LTFRB

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — Transport regulators on Monday confirmed that the Libreng Sakay program will be back this year, this time covering the EDSA bus carousel and jeepneys.

“Ibabalik natin ang Libreng Sakay. Uunahin natin ang Metro Manila kasama po ang mga jeepneys,” Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a briefing.

[Translation: We will revive the Libreng Sakay. We will start with Metro Manila, including jeepneys.]

“Hinahabol po naming nang November, December para maagang pamaskong handog ng LTFRB," he added.

[Translation: We are targeting by November, December as an early Christmas gift from LTFRB.]

He said the joint memorandum circular for the ₱1.3-billion fund has been approved. The budget will be released this month, he added.

The Libreng Sakay, which was implemented at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ended on Dec. 31, 2022 due to limited budget.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said government spends around ₱10 million-₱12 million a day for the free rides.

The Department of Transportation earlier said some private companies have expressed interest in privatizing the EDSA busway.