EDSA Carousel Libreng Sakay program to run 24/7 till December 31

Around 100 buses will take part in the 24/7 operating hours of the "Libreng Sakay" program for the EDSA Bus Carousel this December, with some drivers assigned to the night shift.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," the program will run for 24 hours a day until December 31. After this year, passengers will have to pay bus fares equal to the prices of other city buses. There will still be a discount for seniors and students.

“Nag-umpisa na po yung coordination meeting po namin with InterAgency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) at saka po Department of Transportation (DOTr) po doon sa transition ng fare box come 2022,” said Robert Peig, Executive Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The LTFRB added that they need P4 billion to continue the program next year.

The House of Representatives had allotted P2 billion in the proposed 2023 National Budget for the Libreng Sakay program.

However, Peig said, “Hindi po siya magiging whole year po yun. Ang mangayayri po kasi nu’n baka for later release po yung budget. So more or less nasa opening of classes na po ‘yun.”

The Libreng Sakay program was first implemented in November 2020. It was approved for an extension until December 31, 2022, by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News