Over 20,000 commuters in Cebu can now enjoy free daily rides on modern jeepneys as government agencies officially launched the maiden Libreng Sakay program in the Visayas, the Palace Press Officer said on Wednesday.
The first Libreng Sakay program was implemented at the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reduce transportation expenses and provide a steady income for drivers and operators.
On July 24, a similar Libreng Sakay program for public utility buses will be launched in Davao City—marking the first implementation in Mindanao.
Passengers along the Urgello–Park Mall route in Cebu City will benefit from the program, which runs every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. until 2028. Libreng Sakay is under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“Ang ‘Libreng Sakay’ ay umaarangkada na sa Cebu. 20,000 na pasahero ang makikinabang kada araw,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Castro said that commuters may save up to PhP200 weekly as a direct benefit from the program.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon also emphasized that the initiative aligns with the President’s directive to ease the financial burden on Filipino families.
“Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. na dapat paginhawahin natin ang buhay ng mga kababayan natin. Ang Libreng Sakay program dito sa Cebu ay isang paraan ng pamahalaan na makatipid sa kanilang araw-araw na gastusin at magamit ang matitipid sa ibang bagay gaya ng pagkain o gamot,” Dizon said.
The program ensures financial stability for over 400 drivers and operators under the service contracting scheme, which guarantees fixed earnings and removes the pressure of meeting daily boundary quotas.
A total of PhP125 million has been allocated to sustain the Libreng Sakay program in Cebu for one year, underscoring the government’s commitment to accessible transportation and social support.
DOTr is currently evaluating additional routes, including the Talisay–IT Park corridor, which services a large number of BPO employees. | PND
