Libreng Sakay of PUVs, MRT-3 to end on June 30, 2022

The “Libreng Sakay” program of public utility vehicles and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will end simultaneously with the Duterte administration's last day in office on June 30, 2022.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras”, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) explained it had decided to end the contract for the remaining serviced jeepneys plying 28 routes in Metro Manila due to exhaustion of funds.

The LTFRB was given a P7-billion fund for the program from the national budget.  It said it spends at least P14 million a day to pay for the contracted PUVs that cater to the daily influx of passengers.

A total of 118 routes offering free rides earlier ended last June 16, 2022.

“As much as we want to continue with the program na aabot pa sana hanggang December but because the number of the participants also na sumali rin sa atin kaya nagkaroon ng exhaustion of funds,” LTFRB Executive Director Kristina Cassion said.

(As much as we want to continue with the program that was supposed to extend until December but because of the number of the participants that availed there was the exhaustion of funds.)

Likewise, the train management of MRT-3 said it would no longer offer free rides in its stations by the end of the month.

“Ang end ng Duterte administration kasi is June 30. Any extension will be up to the next administration, kung ano ‘yung policy nila,” said MRT-3 general manager Michael Capati.

(The end of the Duterte administration is on June 30. Any extension will be up to the next administration.)

Buses plying EDSA Carousel will still offer free rides to passengers up to July 30, 2022.

The development comes amid the looming decision of the LTFRB on the petitions of public utility vehicles for a fare hike. Jeepney drivers and operators are asking for a P4 to P5 increase in minimum fares while buses are asking for a P4 to P7 hike.

The agency will release its ruling by the end of the month.

“If in case the board will grant the fare petitions, 'yun ang sasalubong sa mga commuters on July possibly na mapa-pass sa kanila ang burden,” Cassion said.

(“If in case the board will grant the fare petitions that would greet commuters in July.)

The transportation sector is among the industries hit hard by the rising fuel prices, the LTFRB said.

For its part, the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) explained the strengthening value of US dollar against the peso caused the further spike of prices of petroleum products in the country.

“What I fear is that there might be a dollar flight from the Philippines to the United States because it would be an opportunity for businesses to put their money in the US. That means there would be a shortage of dollars here, so probably inflation,” IPPCA president Chito Villavicencio said.—Sundy Locus/LDF GMA News