MORE FREE RIDES Passengers queue to ride the Edsa Carousel bus. The government has extended the program possibly until December. 鈥攊nquirer file photo.
President Marcos has approved the extension of the government鈥檚 free rides program for buses plying the Edsa Carousel Busway, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Friday.
Mr. Marcos also gave the green light for the free rides for students in MRT-3, LRT-2 and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) once in-person classes resume in August, the agency added.
The President approved the free rides recommended by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, who said the 鈥淟ibreng Sakay鈥� (free ride) program could be extended until December 2022.
But the government discontinued free rides for all MRT-3 passengers because the government was 鈥渁lready subsidizing鈥� riders by as much as P163.85 per passenger even before the program and even with passengers paying the full fare.
Focus on mobility
鈥淐onsidering the welfare of students, however, whose learning outcomes have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the undersigned recommends implementing a 鈥楲ibreng Sakay for Students Program鈥� for the first quarter of the 2022-2023 school year or from Aug. 22 to Nov. 4 this year,鈥� according to Bautista鈥檚 memorandum.
The government last month said the free rides on the Edsa Carousel would only last until July 31 while the 鈥淟ibreng Sakay鈥� for jeepneys would end on June 30 because of the depletion of the budget for the programs.On his first work day at the DOTr, Bautista said he would focus on improving the mobility of passengers and goods and providing 鈥渁ccessible, affordable, comfortable and safe transport service throughout the country.鈥�
鈥楪lobal standards鈥�
鈥淲e should focus our efforts at moving passengers and goods that use our roads, airports, seaports and railways,鈥� said Bautista, who seeks to 鈥渆levate鈥� the country鈥檚 transport system to 鈥済lobal standards.鈥�
At the same time, Bautista said they would follow through with the DOTr鈥檚 ongoing 鈥淏uild, Build, Build鈥� program.
鈥淲e do not need to reinvent the wheel. These big-ticket projects truly deserve continuity to [strike] the maximum benefits for the Filipino people,鈥� he said.
Among the big-ticket projects are the Metro Manila Subway and the 163-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway, which are both under construction.
RELATED STORY:
Extension of free ride program pushed聽