If you have a National ID, you can ride two of Metro Manila’s train lines for free on certain days this month.
The MRT-3 and LRT-2 are letting passengers travel without paying every Wednesday of August. The specific dates are August 5, 12, 19, and 26. The free trips are only valid during peak hours, which are from 7 in the morning until 9 in the morning, and again from 5 in the afternoon until 7 in the evening.
Why are they doing this? The train management said the free rides are a way to remember the anniversary of the law that created the National ID system. That law was approved on August 6, 2018.
There is more good news for MRT-3 passengers. The line is also offering another free ride day on September 16 to mark Global Identity Day.
Getting the free ride is easy. All you have to do is show your National ID at the station entrance. It does not matter if you have the plastic card, the digital copy on your phone, or the printed paper version. Any of these will work.
In case you still do not have a National ID, the government has set up registration booths inside some MRT-3 stations. At the Araneta-Cubao station, you can sign up until the end of August. The booth is open from 8AM to 5PM, Monday through Saturday.
Over at the Taft station, the registration schedule is a bit different. It runs from 6AM to 10 PM on weekdays and from 8AM to 5PM on Saturdays.