Nearly 3M commuters benefit from DOTr’s 12-day free ride program
Passengers, including private sector employees and household helpers, avail of free rides at LRT-2 Antipolo Station in Antipolo, Rizal, on Tuesday, 23 December 2025. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) continues its 12 Days of Christmas free-ride program on MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 for select groups of passengers during the holiday period. Private sector workers and household helpers may avail themselves of complimentary rides on 23 December, followed by uniformed personnel, veterans, and their families on 24 December. Free rides will be extended to all commuters on 25 December.
Photo by Analy Labor for DAILY TRIBUNE
A total of 2,841,788 passengers benefited from the Department of Transportation's Libreng Sakay program, which ran from 14 to 25 December 2025, across major rail lines LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.
Dubbed the “12 Days of Christmas,” the program offered free rides to different sectors on designated days, including senior citizens, students, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with their families, teachers and health workers, persons with disabilities (PWDs), government employees, women passengers, families, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and solo parents, private-sector employees and kasambahays, uniformed personnel, veterans and their families, and a final “Free for All” day.
The initiative was backed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aimed at easing commuting expenses during the holiday season.
Among the rail lines, MRT-3 recorded the highest ridership with 1,183,950 passengers, followed by LRT-1 with 1,091,951 riders, and LRT-2 with 565,887 commuters.
The program peaked on Christmas Day, 25 December, with a combined total of 835,777 passengers across the three rail lines.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the strong turnout underscored the importance of accessible public transportation, particularly during the holidays, as families traveled to celebrate Christmas together.