The Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched a “Libreng Sakay” (Free Ride) program in Davao City on Thursday, deploying eight buses on a popular route during peak hours to alleviate the burden on commuters.
The free service will operate daily, including weekends and holidays, from Lasang to Roxas via Sasa Road. Buses will run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wanted the ‘Libreng Sakay’ program strengthened to help commuters not only in Davao but all over the country,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon in an interview. He noted that approximately 6,000 commuters are expected to benefit daily from the initiative, which aims to enhance the public transportation system and encourage a shift in commuter behavior by making public transit more attractive and accessible. Commuters could save around PHP100 per round trip.
The DOTr, in collaboration with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), is also exploring the addition of more buses to the route and the possibility of free rides on the Cabaguio route.
Dizon mentioned that the program has a yearly budget of PHP70 million and is set to continue until 2028. Its pilot implementation in Cebu and Davao serves as a precursor to the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP). The free rides will complement the existing Peak Hour Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS) and the upcoming Davao Interim Bus Service (DIBS).
