The Department of Transportation (DOTr) provided a significant holiday gift to Metro Manila commuters, successfully serving nearly three million passengers through its Christmas free rides initiative on the capital's major rail lines.
Record-Breaking Ridership During the Holiday Season
From December 14 to 25, 2025, the "12 Days of Christmas - Libreng Sakay" program across the Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1), LRT-2, and Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) lines accommodated a total of 2,841,788 passengers. This initiative directly followed a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aimed at easing the financial burden on Filipinos during the busy Yuletide season.
The program saw its peak on Christmas Day, December 25, which recorded the highest single-day ridership. A remarkable 835,777 passengers enjoyed free travel across all three rail lines on that day alone.
Rail Line Performance and Beneficiary Groups
The MRT-3 line recorded the highest overall ridership during the 12-day period, serving 1,183,950 commuters. It was followed closely by LRT-1 with 1,091,951 passengers and LRT-2 with 565,887 riders.
The second-largest daily turnout occurred on December 18, dedicated to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and male passengers, which saw 550,138 riders across the network.
The DOTr structured the program to cater to specific sectors on different days. The schedule of beneficiaries included:
- Senior Citizens
- Students
- OFWs and their families
- Teachers and Health Workers
- PWDs and Male Passengers
- Government Employees
- Female Passengers
- Families
- LGBTQIA+ community and Solo Parents
- Private Sector Employees and Kasambahays (household helpers)
- Uniformed Personnel, Veterans & Families
- A final "Free for All" day open to everyone
Government Commitment to Accessible Transport
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez highlighted the program's success as a reflection of the government's dedication to creating a more inclusive and convenient public transportation system.
"This overwhelming response demonstrates the importance of accessible public transportation in the lives of Filipino families, especially during the Christmas season," Lopez stated in a news release. He added, "We are honored to serve almost 3 million commuters through this program, providing them with safe, reliable, and free transportation as they celebrate the holidays with their loved ones."
The initiative underscores a focused effort to support various societal groups during a period of increased travel and expenditure, reinforcing the role of public rail transport as a vital service for the Filipino people.
