MANILA, Philippines — Over 300,000 commuters availed themselves of the “Libreng Sakay” program of the government on the first day of the resumption of free rides along the EDSA bus carousel on Monday.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) logged 307,396 free rides given out by 510 public utility buses plying the EDSA busway and other routes under the third phase of the service contracting program.
The Department of Transportation and LTFRB resumed the program to help public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers affected by the pandemic and increasing fuel prices.
Under the service contracting program, PUV drivers and operators will provide free rides to commuters and will be compensated by the government on a weekly basis.
The government will shoulder the fuel expenses, disinfection, monthly amortizations and other overhead expenses.
PUV drivers and operators will be paid based on the number of trips traveled per week regardless of the number of passengers they get.
Additional routes for the free bus rides are expected to open in the coming days, the LTFRB said.