‘Libreng Sakay’ benefits over 1 million commuters’ – LTFRB-CAR

Baguio City, Philipines –A total of 1, 016, 748 commuters in the region benefited from the ‘Libreng Sakay’ program of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Cordillera.

The report is based on records from April 16 until May 17 this year.

The free ride which is part of the service contracting program of LTFRB, and funded through the General Appropriations Act does not only benefit commuters but drivers and operators as well.

Operators and drivers who participated, according to the agency, will get a one-time pay-out and weekly payments in the government’s free ride program and payments shall be based on the number of kilometres travelled per week even if they have no passengers.

This service contracting program has a budget of Php7 billion and covers around 1,000 routes nationwide with an estimated participation rate of 13,000 to 15,000 public utility vehicles.

Traditional and modern jeeps, buses, and UV express vehicles are included.

The program aimed at helping drivers and operators greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuous oil price hike in the country.

In Baguio City, Benguet and Mt. Province, 76 Modernized PUJs were reported by LTFRB-CAR to have participated traveling in 7 routes.

These routes are Baguio Plaza – Trancoville, Baguio Plaza - Aurora Hill, Bontoc – Bauko, Mt Province, Ambayao - La Chesa, Baguio City, Baguio City - La Trinidad, Baguio Plaza - BGH - Campo Sioco and Baguio Plaza – Camp 8- Poliwes- San Vicente.

In the agency’s press release, DOTr Secretary Art Tugade believes that the program gives extra revenue to drivers and help commuters save their supposed fare.

Additionally, it is helping provide for day-to-day needs.

Further, the agency is expectant that the program will benefit more commuters given that other ‘Libreng Sakay’ routes that will provide services to health workers will be opened in the following days.

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