Daily Tribune‘The ‘Libreng Sakay ‘program has benefited hundreds of thousands of our commuters, who have been clamoring for its continuation as a way to ease their burden from the rising costs of fuel and basic goods and commodities.’
MMDA Acting Chairman Engr. Carlo Dimayuga with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte oversee the dispatch of the agency's Libreng Sakay buses to help commuters in Doña Carmen along Commonwealth Ave. westbound (going to QC circle), in this 26 August 2022 photo. | PHOTOGRAPH BY ANALY LABOR FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_ana
Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny," Angara on Friday said the "Libreng Sakay" program will continue amid government plans to privatize the EDSA Carousel busway in 2023.
In a statement, Angara said the program that has benefitted commuters since the start of the pandemic over two years ago will continue next year since it was funded under the General Appropriations Act for next year.
"A substantial amount was included by Congress under the 2023 General Appropriations Act to ensure the continuous implementation of the program," he said.
Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, a total of P2.16 billion was allocated for the PUV Service Contracting Program, through the initiative of Congress.
This includes the P1.285 billion in programmed appropriations and another P875 million lodged under unprogrammed appropriations.
Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that the "Libreng Sakay" or the PUV Service Contracting program of the Department of Transportation was initially not funded under the National Expenditure Program or the version of the 2023 national budget that was submitted by Malacañang to Congress earlier this year.
"The 'Libreng Sakay 'program has benefited hundreds of thousands of our commuters, who have been clamoring for its continuation as a way to ease their burden from the rising costs of fuel and basic goods and commodities," he said.
"These days every peso counts and whatever little savings that could be realized is highly appreciated," he added, reacting to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista's confirmation that the government is looking into privatizing the EDSA Carousel busway.
Based on data from the Department of Budget and Management, a total of 628 buses were contracted to service the EDSA Busway Route which will accommodate up to 50 million passengers from 1 September to 31 December.
According to the DOTr, the EDSA Bus Carousel accommodates around 320,000 to 390,000 passengers daily.
