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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider DOTr offers '12 Days of Christmas' free rides on MRT-3, LRT lines

DOTr offers '12 Days of Christmas' free rides on MRT-3, LRT lines

Published Dec 11, 2025 12:39 pm
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announcing the the “12 Days of Christmas” free ride program on Wednesday night, Dec. 10 (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announcing the the “12 Days of Christmas” free ride program on Wednesday night, Dec. 10 (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is offering free rides on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 to various sectors as part of its efforts to ease commuting during the holiday rush.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced that his agency will launch the “12 Days of Christmas” free-ride program on Dec. 14 and run through the 25th.
During the 12-day program, each day is dedicated to a specific sector.
Senior citizens will get free rides on Dec. 14, students on Dec. 15, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families on Dec. 16, teachers and healthcare workers on Dec. 17, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and male passengers on December 18, and government employees on Dec. 19.
Female passengers will benefit from the program on Dec. 20, followed by families on Dec. 21, solo parents and members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Dec. 22, private sector employees and household helpers on Dec. 23, uniformed personnel, veterans, and their families on Dec. 24, and culminating on Dec. 25 with free rides to all commuters on Christmas Day.
Lopez said he has instructed the management of MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 to make it easier for commuters to take advantage of the free ride program.
“This is the basic rule, since this is a Christmas gift… you don’t have to be very strict,” Lopez said in a chance interview.
“For example, let's say male passengers. Do you still need an ID? You don't need an ID there, right? But for senior citizens, you might need one. But if they look old, we'll allow it,” he shared.
He said uniformed personnel may also need to present their IDs, but not unless they are wearing their uniforms.
As for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Lopez said the same relaxed policy applies.
“We know that there is no ID when it comes to LGBTQ. All you have to do is just admit it, and that’s acceptable to us. We'll allow it,” he said.
In a related development, the DOTr said it has installed a new lighting system across the 13 MRT-3 stations to ensure the safety of passengers, especially during the holiday season.
To this end, additional personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed throughout the stations.
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