MRT-3 ‘Libreng Sakay’ program extended until May 30, 2022

Good news for commuters: You can continue to ride the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) without paying for fares until May 30, 2022. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced the extension of its Libreng Sakay program for the MRT-3 until the end of May.

The DOTr initially brought back its free rides initiative in celebration of the MRT-3’s successful rehabilitation in April. In light of the program’s record-breaking success, in which it catered to nearly two million passengers in its first week of fare-less operations, the transportation department has decided to offer more free rides to all passengers.

As of April 26, 2022, over 7.2 million passengers have availed of the MRT-3’s Libreng Sakay program. More and more commuters have flocked to Metro Manila’s railway lines as COVID-19 restrictions continue to wane, giving the DOTr a chance to test the integrity of its transportation systems. Originally set to end before the end of the month, the free rides will now continue for another month until the end of May. The fare-less rides will continue to operate during the MRT-3’s regular hours, which are from 4:40 AM to 10:10 PM.

In related news, the EDSA Carousel line is also offering the Libreng Sakay program for authorized persons outside of residence (APORs). The program began giving free rides to commuters on April 11, 2022. 515 out of 532 registered public utility buses (PUBs) are participating in the program, so interested passengers can take advantage of the free rides until further notice.

With the extension of the Libreng Sakay program for the MRT-3, commuters going from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City have ample opportunity to get free rides for another month. The MRT-3 also passes through stations in Makati and Mandaluyong, for a total of 13 stations over 16.9 km.