OVP’s Libreng Sakay serves 2 million passengers since 2022
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The Office of the Vice President (OVP), led by Vice President Sara Duterte, has provided free transportation to more than two million passengers nationwide through its "Libreng Sakay" program since it launched in 2022, the agency said Thursday.
“Right now as of 30 June 2025, we already served 2,025,275 people — passengers, yung isakay na natin as of today. Noong December, dun sa annual report natin, na until end of 2024, nasa 1 million plus pa lang noon. Kaya habang tumatagal, mas marami tayong nasa serbisyohan na pasahero,” said OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo.
The program started just a month after Duterte assumed office in 2022 and is seen as a direct public service aimed at easing the daily commute of ordinary Filipinos.
“Yes, that's right, 2022. So isang buwan, pag-upo ni Vice President Sara Duterte, inumpisahan na yung bus ride. Para ang objective nito, para makatulong tayo na mapabuti ang yung sitwasyon, yung kondisyon, yung comfort na maibigay natin kahit konting tao lang sa araw-araw. So, kung everyday natin itong gagawin hanggang 2028, so naka six years din tayo, at marami talaga sigurado ang matutulungan natin noon. We have 3 more years,” Castelo said.
Currently, the OVP operates nine buses that cover routes in Metro Manila, PITX to Monumento, and PITX to Naic, Cavite.
“Merong dalawang naka-assign sa Quiapo papuntang Commonwealth and back. Ang schedule of operations natin, very limited pa right now. It's 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., apat na oras din yun, and then 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. sa gabi naman. Yung mga galing sa opisina naman, na uuwi na,” Castelo added.
Despite budget limitations, the OVP intends to keep the program running until the end of Duterte’s term in 2028.
“Even if we cannot sustain it anymore itutuloy pa rin natin kasi ito yung serbisyo na pinakadirektang nakaka-affect… Alam mo yung instant benefit doon sa sasakay, diba? Nag-start siya ng 3 August 2022. Hanggang sa last day ng term ni Vice President Duterte, meron pa rin patatakbuhin na libreng sakay,” she said.
Castelo said the monthly cost of running the nine buses falls between P170,000 and P180,000, which includes fuel, leasing, and other operational needs.
“Kasi ang gasolina. So, including parang lease ng bus. Yeah, lease lang ng bus. Parang gano'n lang. Pero yung operation cost, sIyempre maintenance, driver, yung mga may konduktor pa, yung mga maglilinis, yung wifi, lahat yan cost na ng Office of the Vice President. Pag parang isang buwan, parang P170,000 or P180,000 yung gastos ng OVP para doon sa nine buses na yun,” she explained.
She noted that cleanliness and safety are priorities in the daily operations of the buses.
“Everyday gasolina mo, full tank mo. Kung 100 liters, lalo yung tanke ng bus, di ba? And then, yung maintenance, may banyo siya. Siyempre, kailangan linisin rin yung mga lahat na... Every space in the bus is a common area. Wala naman siyang private area, di ba? So, expect natin talaga na kailangan linisin every day, i-disinfect, lalo na kung may mga outbreak na naman para hindi maka — I mean, just to make sure na healthy yung mga pasahero natin,” Castelo added.
