The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched the “Libreng Sakay,” a program that will give free ride to commuters in Davao City on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon led the launch together with Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Magno and officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-11) and Land Transportation Office-Davao (LTO-11).

At least eight 49-seater buses will operate daily during peak hours to accommodate commuters who often struggle to get a ride.

The morning schedule will start from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. while the evening schedule runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The current route spans from Lasang to Roxas Avenue via Sasa and vice versa.

“Ang rutang yan pala 6000 residents per day a lot of students, workers a lot of seniors nakita natin sa bus kanina. it’s everyday not just weekdays, including weekends and holidays,” Dizon said.

The government has allocated more than P70 million to subsidize bus operators.

“Pilay subsidy sa operators? Per kilometer ma’am naa sa kontrata namo so pila ang per kilometer 75 pesos per kilometer 29 kilometers ang Roxas to Lasang ang overhead expenses sa operation amoa na tanan,” bus manager, Roger Canonico, said.

DOTr is also looking into adding more routes to accommodate more commuters.

“Tuloy-tuloy ito sabi ng pangulo as long as siya ang presidente tuloy-tuloy to. We will just keep on adding more routes para mas matulungan natin ang mga passengers,” Dizon said.

“Napakalaking bagay para sa ating mga commuters sana magtuloy-tuloy pa at hindi sawang bumalik dito si Secretary Vince alam ko naman na sa Davao at sa buong Mindanao yan ang plano nila tumulong sa building a better Mindanao na programa ng ating president,” Magno added.

The program has also been implemented in Metro Manila and Cebu.

Aside from DOTr program, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has also been offering free rides in Davao City with the following routes: Lasang to Roxas every Monday and Tuesday, Toril to Roxas every Wednesday and Thursday, and Calinan to Roxas every Friday and Saturday.

The OVP buses operate from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

So far, the OVP’s free ride service has already served more than 2 million passengers.