Commuters here will still be able to enjoy free rides in public utility vehicles after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended its “Libreng Sakay” program until July 15.

In an advisory on Friday, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said the region’s service contracting program, now in its third phase, is extended until July 15.

The extension includes those operating under both the gross service contracting (GSC) or the “Libreng Sakay” and those operating under the “net service contracting (NSC).”

The agency said a total of 1,951 units have joined the Service Contracting Phase 3 in CAR. Some 124 units out of the total are serving the “Libreng Sakay” and the rest are under the Net Service Contract.

Those covered by the NSC program collect fares from passengers but are still provided by the government with an incentive of PHP28 per kilometer. (PNA)