The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) free bus trip program will proceed, though that of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) already ended on December 31, 2022.
In a message to reporters on Wednesday, the OVP confirmed that there could be no adjustments within the operations of its Libreng Sakay, which was launched in August final 12 months along with DOTr.
A complete of 5 buses had been initially allotted for this initiative—two of which had been deployed in Metro Manila, one in Davao City, one in Cebu, and one in Bacolod.
Vice President Sara Duterte earlier stated these buses had been lent to them by the personal sector throughout the marketing campaign interval.
The OVP determined to deploy the buses as a substitute in numerous components of the nation to help the DOTr’s Libreng Sakay beneath the federal government’s nationwide service contracting program.
Duterte’s spokesperson, Atty. Reynold Munsayac, earlier stated the OVP’s free ridership program could be applied within the subsequent six years, and they might additionally attempt to add extra buses to go by different routes, like within the Commonwealth space.
The Libreng Sakay program of the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was launched in late 2020 beneath Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act to assist commuters and people within the public transport sector affected by the pandemic.
It was prolonged till December 31, 2022, by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The LTFRB stated Wednesday that the Libreng Sakay within the EDSA Bus Carousel will return both within the first or second quarter of the 12 months.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista had stated the company was learning the potential for bringing again the free rides with a P2.1-billion price range or privatizing the bus carousel’s operation. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
