Free rides on EDSA carousel, some high volume routes seen extended until July or August

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is considering extending the services of the free bus rides on EDSA carousel and in some high volume routes until July or August.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the LTFRB said there are more than 100 routes that offer free rides in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

The LTFRB said the allocated budget for the free rides is around P7 billion.

However, it said that more than 50% of the budget was already spent and extending the free rides will depend on the available funds.

“Yung ibang mga regions kasi will be ending by June 30 but I think EDSA busway and sa mga high volume na mga routes will be extending up to July or at the most August,” LTFRB Executive Director Maria Kristina Cassion said.

(The other regions will be ending by June 30 but I think EDSA busway and the high volume routes will be extending up to July or at the most August.)

Meanwhile, several commuters appealed to extend the free rides because they can save money from it.

“Ito kasi parang opportunity ito na habang ngayon makatipid pa sa ngayon, pero pag bumalik na naman sa back to normal ayon dapat paghandaan,” commuter Chrismarie Novio said.

(This is an opportunity to save more for now, but when we go back to normal we should prepare.)

“Sa kagaya po namin na minimum wage lang ay talagang malaking tulong po ito [free rides],” another commuter Julieta Silo said.

(For those of us who are only earning minimum wage, this is really a big help.)

The minimum jeepney fare is currently P10. Ride hailing services also have pending petitions to increase fare.

The LTFRB, on the other hand, said a long term solution is needed to aid commuters amid the high cost of transportation.

“Yung excise tax, yung i-balik yung regulation... those are policy matters. Ito kasi yung mga policy matters na you need to be addressed in the long run,” Cassion said.

(The excise tax, the return of regulation, those are policy matters. These are the policy matters that you need to address in the long run.)—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News