Six minibuses bearing “Wilyonaryo Libreng Sakay” stickers will soon be ferrying passengers at no cost along key Metro Manila routes, as television host Willie Revillame steps up to ease the burden of rising fuel prices on ordinary commuters.
Revillame revealed the initiative on his game show “Wilyonaryo,” saying the vehicles were purchased collectively with friends and are currently being prepared for operation.
“Nag-ambag-ambagan kami. Bumili kami ng minibus, ipinapakundisyon lang po namin at nilagyan namin ng sticker na Wilyonaryo. Kapag nakita ninyo po yung Wilyonaryo, libreng sakay,” he said.
Each minibus is expected to accommodate roughly two dozen passengers per trip. Revillame made clear that fuel and driver costs will be shouldered entirely by his program.
“I think mga 21 o 23 yung mga maisasakay [ng bawat minibus]. Ako na ho ang bahala sa gasolina. Kami na ho ang bahala sa mga driver. Basta ‘yun po ang tulong ng programang Wilyonaryo sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Planned rush-hour routes will cover Monumento in Caloocan, SM North EDSA in Quezon City, Starmall along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, and Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Revillame said he is personally handling the regulatory side, including a planned visit to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to obtain the required franchises before the minibuses begin operating.
“Hopefully, baka po by next week magagamit na po yan at dadalhin po namin sa LTFRB. Magpapaalam kami para mabibigyan kami ng lisensya for that,” he said.
He acknowledged that the vehicles must stay within designated bus lanes to remain compliant with traffic rules.
“Dadaan kasi sa bus lane [ang Wilyonaryo minibus]. Hindi ka puwede sa labas ng bus lane, huhulihin ka. So, hihingi po kami [lisensya] at pupunta po ako sa secretary ng LTFRB at makikiusap,” he added.
Revillame’s move comes as fuel prices continue climbing amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Actor Donny Pangilinan and his father Anthony have also responded to the oil price crunch by cutting diesel prices at their family-owned filling station to assist those most affected in their community.
