‘Libreng Sakay’ under LTFRB program in Cebu resumes

Commuters may expect a break from transportation expenditures as public utility vehicles (PUVs) give free rides along various routes across the country as part of a government subsidy program that started on Monday, April 11.

The public will be able to avail free trips for 45 to 60 days under the LTFRB’s service contracting program, depending on the region.

Meanwhile, the Ceres Buses with FREE RIDES have started plying on Monday with the following routes:

• SRP to IL Curso to IT Park
• Cebu City to Alcoy
• Cebu City to Moalboal
• Cebu City to Pinamungajan via Toledo
• Cebu City to Balamban via Toledo
• Dumaguete City to Mabinay & vice versa
• Dumaguete City to Bayawan & vice versa
• Dumaguete City to Jimalalud & vice versa
• Tagbilaran City to San Jose via Tubigon
• Tagbilaran City to Talibon via Balilihan
• Carmen-Tagbilaran City to Mabini
• Tagbilaran City to Panglao

The government has set out P7 billion for the scheme, which will see 13,000 to 15000 PUVs plying at least 1,000 routes around the country.

However, the local agency stressed that not all of these routes will give free trips tomorrow because certain public transportation operators are still working through the program’s requirements.

PUV operators and drivers will provide free trips to commuters in exchange for a weekly monetary payment from the government under the initiative.

Drivers of public utility buses, UV express vans, conventional and new public utility jeepneys, and selected tourist franchises are included in the program.