The EDSA Busway 24/7 Libreng Sakay program has officially ended. As of the start of 2023, specifically on January 1 (of all days), bus rides are no longer free for passengers and fares will already be collected. While the program has serviced numerous commuters in the past year, all good things do come to an end, and the DOTr and LTFRB have provided a matrix on the fares that will start being collected.
Libreng Sakay is no more, here’s the new Fare Matrix on the EDSA Busway
Photo: LTFRB
We can remember that last year, the Department of Transportation needed an additional PHP 1USD 0.02INR 1EUR 0.02CNY 0.12.4B to keep the Libreng Sakay program running until the end of 2022. Fortunately, that budget was approved and given. The said funding was able to subsidize the free rides given to commuters daily, which truly was a godsend.
At the turn of the year, Libreng Sakay will cease operations, and while buses will still be plying from the EDSA Busway/carousels, commuters won’t get free rides anymore.
Photo: LTFRB
The matrix that you see above is for the southbound bus route. There are 21 busways/carousels where commuters can start their travels, and the prices range anywhere from PHP 15.00USD 0.25INR 22EUR 0.25CNY 2 to PHP 75.50USD 1INR 109EUR 1CNY 9.
Photo: LTFRB
On the other hand, there are 19 busways/carousels that will service commuters who are headed northbound. The lowest fare to be collected is also PHP 15.00USD 0.25INR 22EUR 0.25CNY 2 while the farthest travel (PITX to Monumento) will come with a PHP 73.00USD 1INR 106EUR 1CNY 9 tag.
The fares are based on a base fare starting at PHP 15.00USD 0.25INR 22EUR 0.25CNY 2 that covers the first five (5) kilometers of travel, with an additional PHP 2.65USD 0.04INR 4EUR 0.04CNY 0.33 added for every kilometer thereafter. Final amounts are rounded off to the nearest PHP 0.25USD 0.00INR 0.36EUR 0.00CNY 0.03. As a small reprieve, students who take the bus are still entitled to a fare discount that is no less than 20% of their total fare of the “approved adjusted fare everyday”. This discount will also be applicable on weekends and holidays.
All good things to do come to an end. The commuting public is most thankful for all the efforts that saw the Libreng Sakay program through to the end of 2022. We can only hope that both the DOTr and the LTFRB can find ways to bring the program back, but that might be wishful thinking. Still, if they do, then that would be a great help to ease the burden of commuters who have no other recourse but to take the bus on their daily travels daily.
Yung ibang bus 43 guada to monumento.. yung iba 40.. pero tong bus na to 45 ang singil.. grabe naman..
Base sa matrix COD TO MAIN AVE 40 lang DAPAT PERO BKIT SINISingil ni manong 48.00 TAMA PO BA YAN 8PESOS LABIS GRABEH NAMAN. DAPAT MAY NAKA POST SA BUS CAROUSEL NG TAMANG CAROUSEL MATRIX DI PARANG NANGHUHULA NALANG YUN NANININGIL PO ATA EH. Pano PO DAPAT NA ACTION NYO JAN.
Where to report if the fare matrix isn’t being followed?