MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Corp. (SMC) started offering free rides on the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) yesterday.
This project comes less than three months after SMC rolled out 16 air-conditioned buses to offer free rides to commuters on the 25-kilometer route to and from Malanday, Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“Our concept for this project was quite simple. We wanted to surprise commuters every day, make them smile when they find out that their ride has already been paid for. It’s not a promo, there is no advertising or ‘gimmick’ involved. Our only hope was that they would be inspired and realize that even the smallest good deeds or kindness that they can offer others, can go a long way,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang.
The free ride project, which ends on Christmas Day, would benefit over 150,000 commuters by the end of its run, he said.
During the morning or afternoon rush hour on Mondays or Fridays, SMC employee volunteers distribute 1,000 pre-loaded stored value cards at the LRT-2’s Cubao station.
In line with SMC’s corporate slogan, “Your World Better”, the project is part of a much larger initiative to highlight the positive social impact companies and citizens can make.
“The project has evolved—but stayed true to the basic concept of making somebody’s day better and inspiring those people to do the same for others,” Ang said.
He said employee volunteers give free coffee and sandwiches to commuters who ride SMC’s buses while the firm’s basketball players offer to serve as barkers and bus conductors.
“From an initial one-month run, we extended the project through the Christmas season. And now, we’re bringing it to train passengers,” he said.
LRT Authority administrator Honorito Chaneco said they are proud that SMC “partnered with us for their project. That they decided to scale up their ‘libreng sakay’ project and extend it to LRT-2 riders, says a lot about their sense of commitment to help fellow citizens.”
The LRT-2, which stretches over 13 kilometers from Recto to Santolan, caters to roughly 200,000 commuters daily.