COMMUTER WOES | As Libreng Sakay ends, EDSA buses start charging fares

January 2, 2023 , 11:21 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(January 2, 2023) – Filipino commuters have to deal with a heavier burden as the new year comes.

Passengers can no longer avail of free rides when taking the EDSA Bus Carousel as the Libreng Sakay program of the government ended last Saturday, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), citing insufficient budget allotment.

“Meron na kaming inilabas na board resolution na sinasabing hanggang December 31 lang (ang Libreng Sakay) dahil ‘yun lang ang kaya ng budget. So, pagdating ng January 1 ng 5 a.m., nasa fare box scheme na ‘yung bus carousel,” said LTFRB executive director Bob Pieg last Thursday on Ted Failon and DJ Chacha sa Radyo 5.

Under Board Resolution 189, the buses plying the busy thoroughfare of EDSA must follow the fare matrix released by the LTFRB. A one-way ticket in an airconditioned bus from Monumento in Caloocan to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange costs P75.50 while the minimum fare is P15.

The LTFRB reminded drivers and operators to duly apply for a copy of the fare matrix that they need to display inside their public utility vehicles (PUV).

“Ang fare matrix/guide ay nagbibigay awtoridad sa PUV drivers na sumingil ng pasahe base sa fare rate na nakasaad,” said the LTFRB in an advisory on Sunday.

Tarpaulins are also displayed at the different stations of the Metro Rail Transit 3 to remind the public that the EDSA Bus Carousel is not free anymore.

EDSA carousel commuters in One Ayala Terminal are reminded that fare will be collected starting TODAY, January 1, 2023, as implemented by DOTR & LTFRB. @News5PH @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/t2UEQztyfW

— Josh Camo (@JoshCamo5) January 1, 2023

According to the LTFRB, 550 buses from two consortiums, namely the ES Transport and Partners Consortium and the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation, will operate along the EDSA busway. As long as qualified, additional buses may be granted special permits to augment the vehicles plying the route.

“Mapapalitan din ang ibang point-to-point bus ng dalawang consortia sa EDSA busway ng PUB (public utility bus) units na pasok sa specifications ng iba pang PUB units sa naturang ruta,” said the LTFRB.

Lawmakers allotted P1.2 billion for the Libreng Sakay program under this year’s national budget. But Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary Jaime Bautista said the budget is not enough because they need P12 million a day to sustain the initiative.

Introduced in 2020, the Libreng Sakay program aided the people’s need for public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last August, the Department of Budget and Management released P1.4 billion to extend it until the end of 2022, per the directive of President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

Plans to privatize the EDSA Bus Carousel are also underway, according to the DOTr. But some advocacy groups called on the government to rethink this proposal due to the potential fare increases that the public would have to bear.

EDSA is one of the most congested roads in the country. By 2035, the country would lose as much as P5.4 billion if Metro Manila’s traffic problem won’t be addressed, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

(PM)

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