Libreng Sakay in EDSA Bus Carousel likely back by Q2 of 2023 —LTFRB

The government's free ride program in EDSA Bus Carousel will return by either the first or second quarter of the year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, LTFRB technical division head Joel Bolano said a budget has already been allocated for the "Libreng Sakay" program.

"Baka we're looking at second quarter. Hopefully, kung makakahabol ng first quarter, the better. Pero kung sakali, baka second quarter," he said.

(Maybe we’re looking at the second quarter. Hopefully, if it can be done in the first quarter, the better. But in case, maybe in the second quarter.)

Bolano said the process and the date of the implementation of Libreng Sakay have yet to be discussed as they are still establishing the "program of work" for the budget.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier said the agency is studying the possibility of bringing back the free rides with a P2.1-billion budget, or privatizing the bus carousel’s operation.

"Ang DOTR at LTFRB ay gagawa ng programa kung paano madidistribute itong P2.1 billion [The DOTr and LTFRB will make a program to distribute the P2.1 billion budget]," Bautista had said.

The P2.1-billion budget was set aside by the Congress for DOTr’s  contract service program.

The government has been offering free rides on the EDSA Bus Carousel under its “Libreng Sakay” program, which ended on December 31, 2022. Under the program, the government taps buses to provide free rides to commuters.

According to the DOTr, the EDSA Bus Carousel accommodates around 320,000 to 390,000 passengers daily. —KBK, GMA Integrated News