Palace: Free train ride under Family Pass 1+3 promo requires no budget
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on March 3, 2025. | PHOTO: Screengrab from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — No budget will be needed for the government’s Family Pass 1+3 program or free Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) rides, a Palace official said Wednesday.
READ: Pamilya Pass: Marcos offers ‘pay 1, ride 4’ at MRT, LRT Sundays
Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro made the pronouncement during a Palace press conference.
“There’s no budget required for MRT-3 and LRT-2, that’s also according to DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary Vince Dizon, because these are government-run, and typically, on Sundays, our LRT and MRT trains are not full,” said Castro in Filipino.
Asked why the program will only be implemented until June 2028, or by the time President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ends his term, Castro responded that it was the President’s way of respecting the plans of whoever will succeed him.
“The President wants to give the next administration the right to decide on whatever program they wish to implement regarding this matter. It’s simply the President’s way of showing respect for the incoming leadership,” she said.
Under the family pass program, the Metro Manila rail lines will offer free rides for up to three family members, including parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, as well as uncles and aunts or guardians with dependents.
The promo will run every Sunday from June 2025 to June 2028. /jpv
