The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said the “Libreng Sakay” program that gives free public utility vehicle rides could survive past June but only if the incoming administration allots supplemental budget for it.
In a “Laging Handa” briefing, LTFRB executive director Tina Cassion said 80 percent of the funds for the project had been exhausted.
“Nasa 80 percent na po kasi iyong exhaustion ng ating funds at tinataya natin na mauubos na din talaga in the coming days […] We are paying P10 million per day sa busway pa lang natin and then ₱14 million per day sa NCR, so, nagkakaroon talaga ng exhaustion,” she said.
The “Libreng Sakay” program had a P7-billion budget.
“Handa naman po ang LTFRB [na i-extend ang program] as long as may supplemental budget na ibibigay sa atin,” Cassion said.
President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is set to assume office on June 30, has yet to designate a transportation secretary.
“Hopefully naman po at ina-assure naman po ng ating incoming president po na tututukan po niya iyong transportation,” Cassion said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro