EDSA Busway Carousel to resume free rides on Monday, April 11, 2022

Commuters in Metro Manila will again be able to enjoy free rides at the EDSA Busway Carousel starting Monday, April 11, under the third phase of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) service contracting program.

According to the DOTr, the program was given a P7-billion budget under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022, covering an initial 515 buses out of the 532 units registered in the program.

The first trips at the EDSA Busway Carousel are scheduled at 4 a.m., while the last trips are scheduled at 11 p.m.

The DOTr also announced higher contract prices per kilometer under the service contracting program, given the continuous increase in pump prices of petroleum products in the country.

The gross contract per kilometer for public utility buses, tourist buses, and mini buses was increased to P84.00 from P82.50 previously, and to P54.00 from P52.50 for consolidated modern and traditional jeepneys and UV Express units.

The net contract price was also increased to P46.50 from P45.50 per kilometer for consolidated public utility buses and mini buses, and to P28.00 from P27.00 for modern and traditional jeepneys and UV Express units.

“Inaasahan naman ang pagbubukas ng mga karagdagang Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) sa Libreng Sakay sa buong bansa sa mga susunod na araw,” the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said in a separate statement.

[The opening of free rides in out public utility vehicles across the country is expected in the following days.]

The LTFRB last month rejected petitions of transport groups to increase the minimum jeepney fare by P1, which came after successive increases in prices. The regulatory decision maintained the minimum fare at P9 for the first four kilometers.

Local oil firms last week implemented a rollback in pump prices, but this is equivalent to only 12.56% of the net increases this year for gasoline, diesel at 6.64%, and kerosene at 6.40%.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) indicate that year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P18.3 per liter for gasoline, P27.85 per liter for diesel, and P25.75 per liter for kerosene as of March 29, 2022. — BM, GMA News