P1.3 billion allotted for free rides

Louise Maureen Simeon - The Philippine Star MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked P1.3 billion to cover the government’s service contracting program (SCP), where free rides are provided to commuters in and out of the metro. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that under the 2023 national budget, P1.285 billion would be allocated for the SCP as implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The SCP allows agencies to hire public utility vehicles to service transport routes and provide free rides to commuters along the EDSA busway and several regions outside Metro Manila. “Since the DOTr is the implementing agency, it is up to them to identify the scope and coverage of the program,” the DBM said. “They have the option to spread or limit its coverage, based on the result of their study.” Conceived to ensure efficient and safe operations of public transportation under the new normal condition, the SCP provides financial support to transport service providers through performance-based payouts. The DBM emphasized that the free rides are a big help to Filipino commuters as their transport savings can already be used for other necessities such as food and house bills. In the EDSA busway, for one, the government has recorded a total of 165 million passengers who availed themselves of the Libreng Sakay program last year. The free bus rides benefited 389,579 passengers daily, peaking to 400,000 during holidays. But the DOTr already said it targets to complete the privatization of the P551-million EDSA busway this year, which means that management and operations will be turned over to the private sector. Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte provincial government said it would continue the Libreng Sakay program this year as the Metro Ilocos Norte Council led the distribution of “free ride” stubs Wednesday. At least 780 recipients – composed of indigent students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) – from Laoag City and San Nicolas, Bacarra and Sarrat towns each received 10 stubs (worth P500). – Artemio Dumlao

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