Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso announced an increase in the daily allowance for drivers participating in the city’s 'Libreng Sakay', raising it from ₱3,500 to ₱4,000.

The ₱500 increase comes in response to the continued rise in fuel prices, particularly the ₱18 hike in diesel recorded on April 7.

Domagoso said the additional subsidy aims to help drivers cope with escalating fuel costs while continuing to provide free transportation services to the public.

"Ang dagdag na ₱500 ay ipagkakaloob kasunod ng ₱18 na pagtaas sa presyo ng diesel ngayong Abril 7, bilang tulong sa patuloy na pagtaas ng gastos sa krudo," Manila Public Information Office said in a statement.

The Libreng Sakay Program was originally launched to support both drivers and operators affected by rising operational expenses, while also easing the financial burden on commuters through free rides across key routes in the city.

Aside from assisting drivers, the initiative is also intended to help commuters save on daily transportation costs.

The city government has deployed over 1,000 jeepneys to serve various routes, ensuring wider coverage and accessibility for passengers.

As of 9:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, the program has already served 194,325 passengers.

On Tuesday, April 7, a total of 890 jeepneys are actively operating to deliver free transport services.

City officials expect thousands more commuters to benefit from the program in the coming days, as the local government continues to support both public transportation workers and passengers amid rising petroleum prices.