Free ride at Edsa Bus Carousel back next month

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III on Monday happily announced that Libreng Sakay (free ride) for Edsa Bus Carousel and jeepneys will return this November until the end of 2023.

At a press conference in Quezon City where jeepney associations are supposed to air their grievances over the government subsidy, Guadiz said the free ride program for jeepneys and buses will return on 1 November.

Guadiz said this was after the joint circular for releasing the P1.3 billion fund for the service contracting program had been approved.

The particular vehicles offering free rides will ply across the National Capital Region, and not just along Edsa.

"This month we will release the budget. We will bring back Libreng Sakay. We will start with Metro Manila. It will include jeepneys," he said.

"Iyong P1.3 billion tapos na po iyong joint memorandum circular. Ibaba na po ang pera. Alam mo ang hinahabol namin doon November-December para maagang pamaskong handog ng LTFRB," he added.

The fund he explained is intended to pay the service contracting program.

"Kung dati po, hanggang sa mga bus sa Edsa Carousel, ngayon pati mga jeepneys," the LTFRB Chair said.