The Parañaque City government will roll out its “Libreng Sakay” program on April 13, deploying 40 passenger jeepneys along major routes to help reduce fuel consumption and ease the daily struggles of commuters amid rising fuel costs.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the initiative is part of the city’s broader energy conservation and cost-saving drive, which also includes stricter power-use policies and food security programs.

The city’s Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Energy Crisis was directed to craft immediate and practical strategies to curb fuel and electricity use while providing relief to residents.

Under the program, 40 jeepneys will be deployed across three high-demand routes: 20 units for Sucat to Baclaran, 10 units for Sucat to Kabihasnan, and 10 units for Sucat to Merville.

The jeepneys will operate on a round-trip basis during peak hours only—6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

Olivarez urged commuters to shift to shared public transportation instead of using private vehicles to help cut fuel consumption.

He explained that the program adopts a service contracting scheme, where the city government subsidizes jeepney operations—ensuring free rides for passengers while providing stable income for drivers affected by soaring fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the city government is also enforcing stricter energy-saving measures in government offices, including a directive to shut down air-conditioning units by 5:00 p.m.

The use of government vehicles will likewise be closely monitored, with all keys required to be surrendered during weekends and holidays to prevent unnecessary fuel use.