DBM: Libreng Sakay set to continue with P1.285-B budget

The government’s free ride program, including the EDSA Bus Carousel system, is set to return as P1.285 billion has been set aside for this year’s Service Contracting program under the Department of Transportation’s 2023 budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday.

The DBM said the budget allocation for the free rides service program is pursuant to Republic Act No. 11936, or the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 General Appropriations Act, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“May pondo po ang Service Contracting Program sa ating FY 2023 GAA [General Appropriations Act]. Naglaan po ang pamahalaan ng Php1.285 billion para maipagpatuloy ang programang ito ngayong taon,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

(The Service Contracting Program has budget allocation under the FY 2023 GAA. The government allocated P1.285 billion for the continuation of this program this year.)

The Libreng Sakay or free rides at the EDSA Busway system ended on January 1, 2023. The service still continues, albeit, commuters have to pay the corresponding fare for their trips.

The Service Contracting program, which gives way to the continuation of the Libreng Sakay, provides free bus rides for the public, including the bus commuters along EDSA.

The Libreng Sakay is a joint program of the DOTr and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to help commuters amid rising prices of commodities and services.

The LTFRB earlier said the free rides at the EDSA Busway system will return by either first or second quarter of 2023.

Sought for details, DBM spokesperson Undersecretary Goddess Libiran said it is up to the DOTr, as the implementing agency, “to identify the scope/coverage of the program.”

“They have the option to spread or limit its coverage, based on the result of their study,” Libiran said.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier said the agency is studying the possibility of bringing back the free rides or privatizing the bus carousel’s operation.

“We understand the plight of our commuting public. And so President Bongbong Marcos gave us a directive to do our part, and to exert our best to help ease their burden. The Service Contracting Program, which funds Libreng Sakay is a big help. Malaking tulong po ang tipid-pasahe sa araw-araw na pamumuhay ng mga kababayan natin. Whatever amount they save daily, they can reallocate to equally or more important needs such as budget for food, electricity, tuition fee, among others,” said Pangandaman.

Citing data from the LTFRB, the DBM said that, as of December 27, 2022, a total of 164,966,373 passengers availed of the Libreng Sakay program along EDSA last year.—AOL/KBK, GMA Integrated News