QC Rep. Atayde to mobilize vehicles for commuters during transport strike

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde announced that he will provide free rides for commuters within the area who will be affected by the week-long transport strike starting on March 6.

Atayde on Saturday said that he is willing to mobilize 37 of his vehicles to 37 barangays to help daily commuters from his district and nearby places next week.

“In my own little way, I am willing to help my district and nearby areas here in QC by providing our own vehicles to help the commuters, especially our medical frontliners,” said Atayde.

He added that the government should have an alternative solution for public commuters.

“We really need to have a plan to minimize the disruption of transportation during the strike. First of all, there must be stand-by trucks and buses ready for deployment to pick up stranded commuters all over different cities, especially our medical frontliners, among others,” said Atayde.

Reports revealed that over 100,000 public utility vehicles (PUVs) are expected to join the transport strike in response to the government’s PUV modernization program.

According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys was extended from June 30 until the end of December this year.

In line with this, Atayde has called the transport groups “to hold dialogues with concerned government agencies and exhaust all means of negotiation before resorting to the week-long strike.”

“I am calling the attention of all the transport sectors to make this strike their last resort because many public commuters will be affected, especially our office workers, students, and our medical and hospital workers, among others,” the 32-year-old lawmaker said.

READ: More LGUs suspend face to face classes, offer free rides on transpo strike week

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