Get a free ride anytime on the EDSA Busway until the end of 2022

If you’re a frequent rider of the free EDSA Busway transport scheme, there’s some good news for you, especially with the holidays coming.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a Nov. 15, 2022 press statement that its “Libreng Sakay” (“Free Ride” in English) will run 24/7 from Dec. 1 to 31, 2022.

“Ito ay inanunsyo ni DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista upang makapaghatid ng tulong sa mas marami pa nating kababayang commuter na patuloy na naapektuhan ng pagtaas ng mga bilihin at krudo,” the agency said in an earlier press statement.

[Translation: This was announced by DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista to help more of our fellow commuters who continue to be affected by the increase in the price of commodities and fuel.]

On August 2022, the Department of Budget and Management released PhP 1.4 billion in special funding for “Libreng Sakay” after an order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to extend the program until the end of 2022.

“Malaking tulong at ginhawa po ang Libreng Sakay sa bulsa ng mga commuter, lalo na para sa mga estudyante at mga kabilang sa labor force,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in a press statement.

[Translation: The “Libreng Sakay” is a big help and relief to the pockets of commuters, especially students and members of the labor force.]

She added that the funds will support up to 50 million riders from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

The money will also benefit around 628 units of onboarded public-utility buses on the EDSA Busway by providing financial support to transport service providers through performance-based payouts.

“Magiging malaking tulong po ito sa kabuhayan ng mga driver ng EDSA Busway na hanggang ngayon ay bumabangon mula sa epekto ng pandemya at apektado sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina,” Pangandaman said.

[Translation: This funding will greatly help the livelihood of drivers on the EDSA Busway who are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and affected by the continuing increase in fuel prices.]

Privatized EDSA Busway?

The EDSA Busway began operations on June 2020 as a replacement for the bus lanes on the notoriously congested 23.8-kilometer highway.

It runs in the lane closest to the median and connects with MRT-3 terminals. More than 330,000 commuters a day use the Busway.

The DOTr said on October 2022 that it is considering turning over the Busway to the private sector because of the lack of funding in the 2023 national budget.

The agency has spent over PhP 730 million for the development of the EDSA Busway since it started operations.

It also inked agreements with the private sector on November 2020 for the construction of walkways for Busway commuters and pedestrians on EDSA.

Do you think the government should continue funding the “Libreng Sakay” scheme beyond 2022?

Source: Get a free ride anytime on the EDSA Busway until the end of 2022