MANILA – Almost half a million commuters are expected to benefit from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Libreng Sakay initiative, offering free rides on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) on November 9, 11, and 13, 2026.
Free rides will be available at 25 LRT-1 stations, from Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) Station in Quezon City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City, and vice versa. Commuters can enjoy free LRT-1 rides from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, respectively.
The initiative forms part of the government’s preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.
“Ang utos po ng ating Mahal na Pangulo, dapat maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan ang tunay na benepisyo ng ASEAN hosting. Sa pamamagitan po ng libreng sakay sa LRT-1, kahit po papaano, makatutulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan na maibsan ang kanilang gastusin sa pamasahe, habang ipinapakita natin sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng ASEAN Chairship para sa ating bansa,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said in a statement.
As part of the initiative, one four-car LRT-1 trainset has been wrapped with images celebrating Philippine cultures, bringing tourism visuals into the daily commuting experience.
The free train rides complements the the deployment of 30 modern jeepneys offering free rides to commuters from November 5 to 14, 2026, along two major routes: SM Fairview to Buendia and Sucat to Baclaran, also a DOT-DOTr partnership.
Operating daily from 4 AM to 10 PM the ASEAN-branded jeepneys feature iconic Philippine destinations, festivals, and tourism experiences, transforming public transport into a platform for promoting the country’s tourism offerings. The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 12,500 commuters daily, while also supporting the livelihood of drivers and transport workers throughout the program.
Meanwhile, three ASEAN-themed digital videos, including songs performed by the country’s tourism ambassadors, BINI and SB19, in support of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship, will be played across 60 screens in 10 LRT-1 stations.
