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DOTr 'recalibrates' free train rides for students, only LRT-2 to be free from Aug-Nov

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - The Department of Transportation on Wednesday said it has &quot;recalibrated&quot; its program offering free train rides for students.</p><p>DOTr Usec. for Rails Cesar Chavez told reporters that only the LRT-2 would offer Libreng Sakay to students from Aug. 22 to Nov.4, 2022.</p><p>During a cabinet meeting, Chavez said they were asked to recalibrate their earlier recommendation which was to offer free rides to students on 3 government-operated railways - the MRT, PNR and LRT-2.</p><p>“Ang instruction ni Presidente (Marcos Jr.) ay recalibrate the policy. That’s the word of the president. Recalibrate the policy. So noong initial discussion, there is already a consensus na lahat (MRT3, PNR, LRT2). But of course, during the cabinet meeting, the instruction of the president to recalibrate and focus on the LRT2.” Chavez said.</p><p>He added that the LRT-2 carries more students compared to MRT-3 and PNR railways. The line served 4,500 students before the pandemic while the MRT-3 and the PNR carried a combined total of 3,000 students daily.</p><p>President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr earlier announced that the government would subsidize the LRT-2 fares of students heading to the university belt. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2120260" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/05/22/marcos-says-govt-to-subsidize-student-fares-on-lrt-2">Marcos says students to get free LRT 2 rides under Libreng Sakay program</a></li></ul><p>The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said it would halt the free rides program for some routes due to lack of funds. The MRT-3 had already bled over half a billion pesos in foregone revenues when it offered free rides for three months from March 28 to June 30, it said. The PNR meanwhile already provides the lowest cost in mass transport, subsidizing P26 for each of its 100,000 passengers daily. </p><p>The agency said around <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/22/dotr-says-p14b-needed-to-keep-libreng-sakay-program-until-end-of-2022">P1.4 billion</a> is needed to offer continued free transport to Filipino commuters. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/22/libreng-sakay-ends-for-some-routes-due-to-depleting-ltfrb-funds">LTFRB cites depleting funds for end of &#x27;Libreng Sakay&#x27; in some routes</a></li></ul><p>The DOTr said it won&#x27;t ask LRT-1 to offer free rides since it is operated by a private entity Light Rail Manila Corp.</p><p>&quot;We will not (ask them to offer free rides). Hindi in-allow ng gobyerno na magraise sila ng fares, kung di nag-allow siya na magfare increase dapat bayaran ng gobyerno yung nawala sa kanila sa fare increase.” Chavez said.</p><p>Free rides were stopped on 118 routes but continued for those riding the EDSA Bus Lane and Commonwealth Route 7 until the end of July.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chavez said the DOTr was also asked by Marcos to look into institutionalizing a 20 percent discount on student&#x27;s beep cards and gradually phase out free ride offers.</p><p>&quot;Kapag makikita natin na gaganda na ang ekonomiya, hundred percent na ang capacity, pagaralan ang pag-phase out of free rides but impelement the student fare discount.” Chavez said.</p><div><strong>-- with a report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2089254" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

DOTr Usec. Cesar Chavez told reporters that only the LRT-2 would offer Libreng Sakay to students from Aug. 22 to Nov. 4, 2022.