The Department of Transportation (DOTr) – Philippines announced its latest Christmas season offer for public commuters: free train rides on the LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3.
The free rides will start 12 days before Christmas to accommodate the surge of commuters in public transportation sites in the hopes of getting home and celebrating the holidays with their loved ones.
The DOTr announced the different assigned dates for the free train rides, starting on December 14 for senior citizens, December 15 for students, December 16 for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, December 17 for teachers and health workers, December 18 for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and male passengers, December 19 for government employees, December 20 for female passengers, December 21 for families (no limit on number of members), December 22 for single parents and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, December 23 for private sector employees and household helpers, December 24 for uniformed personnel, veterans, and their families, and December 25 for all commuters.
Commuters were quick to share their gratitude, with one person saying “I will take what I can get, thank you, DOTr,” in the comment section of the announcement post. Amidst the fun, people are also asking how operators will be able to verify all these categories efficiently, especially solo parents and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The department was quick to respond, with DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez saying in a statement, “The basic rule since ito po ay pamaskong handog…[is] that we don’t have to be very strict…They just have to get their free ticket and say that they are availing [themselves] of the free ride, no questions asked.”
Nonetheless, public transportation and safety will remain their priority in the surge of commuters in the coming days.