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'Libreng Sakay' may no longer continue in 2023, LTFRB explains why
'Libreng Sakay' may no longer continue in 2023, LTFRB explains why
The government's free rides program, popularly known as Libreng Sakay, may no longer be pushed through this year despite the allotment of the P1.3 billion by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), a top transport official said on Friday, Jan. 27.
Teofilo Guadiz III, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said top officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is instead eyeing the implementation of a discount system that would expand to other public utility vehicles (PUVs).
"For now, we are awaiting instructions from the DOTr. The intention is to stretch the money for as long as we can to include jeepneys and shuttle rides--not only buses," said Guadiz in a press briefing on Friday.
The Libreng Sakay was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to help the mobility of healthcare workers and essential workers amid the implementation of lockdowns.
While it was expanded to a few provinces at the height of the pandemic, the Libreng Sakay program covered mostly passenger buses plying the EDSA route in 2022. Due to lack of budget, the program ended on Dec. 31 last year
The DBM, however, has committed to allot around P1.3 billion and the LTFRB said they would implement it by February this year as soon a the fund is released.
But in Friday's briefing, Guadiz said DOTr officials are now leaning towards giving discount cards.
"If we would continue the Libreng Sakay, then the estimate is that the fund will only last for four months, so what may happen is that we will just be giving discounts. That is the leaning," said Guadiz.
As to how it would be specifically done, according to Guadiz, will depend on the guideline that would be released by the DOTr probably next month.
Aside from the move to stretch the P1.3 billion budget for the program, Guadiz said another reason why Libreng Sakay program may no longer be pursued is that DOTr officials want to have as many commuters and other transport groups benefit from the program.
"There is also a clamor from the jeepney groups, there is also a clamor from the shuttle operators. So we will wait for the guidelines that will be issued by February," said Guadiz.