LTFRB: Gov't wants Libreng Sakay program to start in April

The Philippine government wants to start the implementation of the expanded “Libreng Sakay” (Free Ride) program by next month, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday.

At the “Laging Handa” press briefing, LTFRB Executive Director Maria Kristina Cassion said her agency is just waiting for the actual downloading of funds allocated for the third tranche of the Service Contracting Program (SCP) to start its rollout.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier announced it released P7-billion to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) for the program’s implementation and for it to include another public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators including jeepneys and UV express.

“Gusto namin na itong service contracting, dito po napapaloob yung ‘Libreng Sakay’ na program natin, eh maipatupad sa lalong madaling panahon,” Cassion said.

(We are hoping that our SCP, where the ‘Free Ride’ program is enclosed, will start as soon as possible.)

“Inaantay lang natin ang pag download ng bugdet sa LTFRB and hopefully, the soonest possible time ngayong April masimulan na natin ang service contracting para ngayong taon,” she said.

(We’re just waiting for the downloading of budget o the LTFRB and hopefully, at the soonest possible time on April we can start the SCP for this year.)

Under the service contracting program, operators and drivers who participate in the government’s free ridership program will receive a one-time payout of P4,000 and weekly payments based on kilometers traveled per week, with or without passengers.

Operators of PUVs will be contracted via an agreement based on a plan prepared by the LTFRB.

Cassion said the transport department is expecting more drivers and operators to participate in the scheme this year after its successful turnouts in 2020 and 2021.

She also assured partners of adjusted rates on their payment in view of the rising fuel prices in the country.

“Dahil nag po nakita na ng operators ang kagandahan,  inaasahan po na mas marami ang sasali ngayong taon. Mas nadagdagan din naman po ang ating pondo kung kaya po sa mas maraming sasali, mae-expect po natin na mas marami pa rin pong pasahero ang makikinabang sa service contractor,” she said.

(Because the operators have seen the positive implications of the program, we are expecting that more partners will join this year. If more drivers and operators participate, more passengers will benefit.)

Around 44 million passengers benefitted from the servicing program, she added.

Meanwhile, Corinne Catibayan’s report on GMA News' Unang Balita said the free ride program on the EDSA carousel bus would resume next week — the last week of March. —NB, GMA News