Photo from the Office of the Vice President
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Libreng Sakay program provided free shuttle services to stranded commuters in Metro Manila from October 22 to 25, serving over 3,700 passengers across different routes affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
According to the OVP in a statement on Friday, two of its buses in the National Capital Region covered the Edsa Carousel route from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to Monumento, while another two covered the Quiapo-Commonwealth Avenue route.
In Cavite, the program also deployed a bus from PITX to Naic.
Photo from the Office of the Vice President
The fully air-conditioned Libreng Sakay buses had portable toilets, charging ports, and free Wi-Fi to support commuters’ needs.
As Kristine caused significant transportation challenges throughout Luzon and in Metro Manila, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration reported that the storm is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday afternoon or evening.
READ: Upon exit, Kristine may ‘loop’ over WPS and head back to PAR
However, it may “loop” over the West Philippine Sea and head back toward the Philippines by Sunday or Monday, influenced by a nearby low-pressure area currently developing east of Mindanao. Stefani Tacugue, INQUIRER.net trainee