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LRT-2 to stop Libreng Sakay program in November; cites P30M estimated loss

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Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Commuters ride the LRT-2 on July 19, 2022. The Libreng Sakay program in Metro railways ended last June 30, with the Department of Transportation recalibrating its free train ride program for students taking the LRT-2 from August 22 to November 4, leading to the gradual phaseout of free rides." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/business/11/04/20220719-lrt-2-commuters-md-8.jpg"/><figcaption>Commuters ride the LRT-2 on July 19, 2022. The Libreng Sakay program in Metro railways ended last June 30, with the Department of Transportation recalibrating its free train ride program for students taking the LRT-2 from August 22 to November 4, leading to the gradual phaseout of free rides.</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The state-run LRT2 will no longer extend its free ride offer to students starting Nov. 6 as it reported an estimated potential revenue loss of P30 million since the program started, an official said on Friday.</p><p>The railway&#x27;s management explained that LRT-2 projects could be compromised if the free ride service continues.</p><p>Around 25,000 to 30,000 students benefited from the free rides daily, with an average fare of P20.</p><p>&quot;Kung mafofocus natin yung hinihinging subsisdiya sa expansion, extension, upgrading, rehab, then mabilis bilis tayo makakakuha sa national government (ng pondo),&quot; LRTA Administrator Atty Hernan Cabrera said.</p><p>(If we focus our subsidy on expansion, extension, upgrading, and rehab, then it would be faster to get additional funding)</p><p>One of the projects in the pipeline is the P10-billion West Extension project, which would add 3 new stations, Tutuban, Divisoria, and Pier 4, to the railway.</p><p>Apart from the right-of-way acquisition, the extension includes the purchase of 5 new trains with four-car configurations.</p><p>“This is the reality kasi dun sa west extension project natin, ito yung addtional three station doon sa piuer. Hind natin maituloy-tuloy kasi nga kulang pa tayo ng pondo doon. (We can&#x27;t continue due to lack of funds),&quot; Cabrera said.</p><p>He said the project needed around P10 billion but so far, there&#x27;s only P1.7 billion in available funds.</p><p>LRT-2 recorded a peak daily ridership of 239,000 when the rail line opened its new stations to the east, Marikina and Antipolo. Based on projections, ridership in the LRT-2 will go up to as high as 300,000 a day upon completing the West Extension project.</p><p>Some students, however, wished the free ride would be reimplemented in the next semester.</p><p>&quot;Malaking help sa kanila (parents) dahil bawas po yun sa baon… kailangan po para sa mga estudyante,” student Angel Pastoral said. </p><p>(It&#x27;s a big help for my parents since it reduces the allowance they need to give to us students)</p><p>“Dagdag gastos na naman po… pwede po kasi sa pagkain sa mga projects… mag-aadjust po, magtitipid tayo,&quot; another student Bryan Golvero said.</p><p>(What we spend on fares could have been used for projects, we need to adjust) </p><p>Cabrera explained that even without the free ride, students could still avail of the 20 percent discount as mandated by the law. </p><p>One has to show their ID or enrolment form at the designated booths. PWDs and senior citizens are also included in the list of those who could get a discount.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/10/19/lrt-2-cuts-free-rides-for-students-amid-shorter-revenue-operations">LRT-2 cuts free rides for students amid shorter revenue operations</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/13/22/only-lrt-2-free-for-students-as-dotr-recalibrates-program">DOTr &#x27;recalibrates&#x27; free train rides for students, only LRT-2 to be free from Aug-Nov</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/22/1-million-students-get-free-lrt-2-rides">1 million students get free LRT-2 rides: official</a></li></ul><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><div> </div>

]The state-run LRT2 will no longer extend its free ride offer to students starting Nov. 6 as it reported an estimated potential revenue loss of P30 million since the program started, an official said on Friday.

LRT-2 to stop Libreng Sakay program in November; cites P30M estimated loss

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LRT-2 to stop Libreng Sakay program in November; cites P30M estimated loss

Jacque Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 04, 2022 04:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Libreng Sakay

Student Free Ride

Free Ride

LRT2

DBM

commuters

LRT-2 project

West Extension project

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