A senior lawmaker on Sunday appealed to his colleagues to realign funds in the final version of the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the “Libreng Sakay” (free ride) program.
Asenior lawmaker on Sunday appealed to his colleagues to realign funds in the final version of the 2023 General Appropriations Act for the “Libreng Sakay” program.
The fund allocation is in the absence of specific outlays for the twin projects in the National Expenditure Program for 2023 that the Department of Budget and Management submitted earlier to Congress, Villafuerte said. “During the upcoming bicam deliberations on next year’s budget, the two chambers can winnow out in the 2023 budget plan the items for specific programs or projects whose outlays can be slashed, if not taken out completely, and realign such outlays for essentials like Libreng Sakay for the EDSA Busway and LRT-2 for Metro Manila commuters and students,” Villafuerte said.
For 2022, the government released P7 billion to the DOTr for the “Libreng Sakay,” with an extra P1.4-billion given in September to extend its implementation until end-December.The DOTr announced last week that the free bus rides would be available 24/7 from December 15 to December 31. New Year’s Eve is the last day of the transport subsidy program after the DOTr failed to secure funding for its implementation next year.
However, officials of the Light Rail Transit Authority announced it stopped last November 6 offering free rides to students. The LRTA said the decision was based on an estimated potential revenue loss of P30 million― based on the average fare of P20 per passenger―since the program started last August 22.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LOOK: Kylie Verzosa is Tanduay’s calendar girl for 2023Kylie follows in the footsteps of Erich Gonzales, Heart Evangelista, Bela Padilla, Barbie Imperial, Ivana Alawi, and Bea Alonzo, to name a few
Read more »
'John Wick: Chapter 4' drops new trailer, movie to premiere on March 2023"John Wick: Chapter 4," the latest film in the Keanu Reeves-starrer action franchise, just dropped its newest trailer packed with action!
Read more »
Pia Wurtzbach to start training anew for London Marathon in 2023A week after successfully completing her first ever marathon in New York City, Pia Wurtzbach will be taking on her “next phase of training” as she is set to join the London Marathon in April 2023. | APasajolINQ
Read more »
15 contingents sign up this early for Sinulog 2023CEBU CITY, Philippines -- It&039;s still more than two months before Sinulog 2023 but this early, some 15 competing contingents have already registered, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI)
Read more »
Ruby Ibarra is awarded 2023 Vilcek Prize for Creative PromiseThe Fil-Am rapper and scientist is recognized for her music that focuses on her experiences as a first-generation immigrant
Read more »