Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Senator Sonny Angara on Friday, December 30 confirmed that a P2.16 billion budget was allocated for the continuation of Libreng Sakay in 2023.

He underlined the importance of free rides for commuters over the past two years in the pandemic.

“The ‘Libreng Sakay’ program has benefited hundreds of thousands of our commuters, who have been clamoring for its continuation as a way to ease their burden from the rising costs of fuel and basic goods and commodities,” he said.

Angara pointed out that the project was a big help to people as the country now has a serious price crisis.

“These days, every peso counts, and whatever little savings that could be realized is highly appreciated,” he added.

Congress included the budget under the 2023 General Appropriations Act to allocate funds for the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) Libreng Sakay project — including P1.285 billion in programmed appropriations and P875 million in unprogrammed appropriations.

To recall, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that starting on January 1, 2023, commuters will have to pay as the free ride ended on December 31, 2023.