Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766382641156600343949_1374296368078949_3031303877599648708_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">LGBTQIA+ advocates, civil society groups, and allies came together at the MRT-3 Cubao station in Quezon City on Monday, December 22, to celebrate inclusion, and call for safer public spaces and immediate passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill. <em>Courtesy: PANTAY</em><br id="isPasted"/> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Gender rights and inclusivity advocacy groups held a program on Monday at the MRT-3 Araneta Center–Cubao Station to celebrate the Department of Transportation’s free ride initiative for LGBTQIA+ community, emphasizing that public transportation remains a space where discrimination persists.</p><p>The program, dubbed as &quot;Free Ride with Pride&quot;, started with Miss Earth Philippines 2025 Joy Barcoma&#x27;s speech. She said the DOTr&#x27;s initiative is a &quot;step toward inclusion.&quot;</p><p>The said free ride is part of the department&#x27;s <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/11/dotr-offers-libreng-sakay-to-different-sectors-in-12-days-of-christmas-0004">&quot;12 Days of Christmas&quot; program for different sectors</a>. Aside from LGBTQIA+ passengers, solo parents are also eligible for the free ride on the same day.</p><p>DOTr chief Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez earlier said LGBTQIA+ passengers won&#x27;t need to present any evidence to avail of the free ride.</p><p>Youth-led socio-political organization PANTAY, in a release, stressed that LGBTQIA+ Filipinos remain unrecognized as a basic sector under national law. It added that such situation prevents the community to get proper social protection and appropriate public service.</p><p>Pride PH national convener Angel Romero mentioned that recognizing the LGBTQIA+ community as a basic sector is necessary for genuine inclusion in policies.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/22/lgbtq-rights-where-does-southeast-asia-stand-1923">LGBTQ+ rights: Where does Southeast Asia stand?</a></div><p>&quot;Tulad ng ibang sektor ng lipunan, kinakailangang kilalanin ang LGBTIQ+ bilang isang basic sector in their own right dahil ang pagkilala ay simula para mas makita kung gaano kalalim ang marginalization na nararanasan ng mga LGBTIQ+ Filipinos at ma-address ito through gender-transformative policies and programs,&quot; Romero said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER DEMANDS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Representatives from Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Babae at Akla Kontra Korap (BAKK), and The Sanctuary Network urged the government to widen access to health services, hold corrupt officials accountable, and seek the return of the alleged corrupt funds to better invest in safer transportation.</p><p>PANTAY national convener Anna Cubacub also renewed calls for the immediate passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill.</p><p>&quot;Hindi bago sa ating lahat na ang public transportation ang isa sa mga espasyo kung saan nakakaranas ng matinding diskriminasyon ang mga kababaihan at LGBTQ+ Filipinos. Panahon na para gawing permanente at hindi lang pansamantala ang ligtas at malayang transportasyon sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng SOGIESC Equality Bill,” she said, challenging the DOTr to be a &quot;partner&quot; in making public spaces gender discrimination-free.</p><p>The bill, which recognizes a person&#x27;s sexual orientation and gender identity, has been languishing in Congress for decades and faces stiff opposition from conservative groups. </p><p>During the last days of the 19th Congress, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/21/hontiveros-to-refile-divorce-bill-push-sogiesc-and-teenage-pregnancy-bills-in-20th-congress-1645">Sen. Risa Hontiveros vowed to push for its passage again</a>.</p><p>Last October, FPJ Panday Bayanihan Rep. Brian Poe, Batangas 6th District Rep. Ryan Recto, and Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez filed a bill seeking to make discrimination based on SOGIESC a punishable offense.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/10/what-is-sogiesc-equality-bills-fate-in-19th-congress-1212">What is SOGIESC Equality Bill&#x27;s fate in 19th Congress?</a></div><p>The groups&#x27; program concluded with advocates, drag artists, LGBTQIA+ commuters, and allies boarding the train together, which they said symbolically show the country&#x27;s clamor to &quot;move forward to its next stop, which is equality.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G40Xp9UR5K0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>DOTr chief Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez earlier said LGBTQIA+ passengers won't need to present any evidence to avail of the free ride.</p>

DOTr chief Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez earlier said LGBTQIA+ passengers won't need to present any evidence to avail of the free ride.

Youth orgs welcome MRT-3 free ride for LGBTQIA+ passengers on Dec. 22

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Youth orgs welcome MRT-3 free ride for LGBTQIA+ passengers on Dec. 22

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 22, 2025 02:02 PM PHT

|

Updated December 22, 2025 04:41 PM PHT

Read More:

LGBT

Pride

Free ride

MRT

Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

DOTR

Gender rights

Inclusivity

SOGIESC Bill

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