FREE RIDE Buses tapped by the Quezon City government to give stranded commuters a free ride wait for passengers on Elliptical Road during a transport strike staged by the groups Piston and Manibela on April 15, 2024. Modern jeepneys, however, continued plying their routes. —LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — The government will deploy additional buses and trains to help passengers affected by the ongoing transport strike, the Palace said on Sunday.
The strike by transport group Manibela began on March 21, days earlier than its scheduled start date of March 24, and will last until March 26.
Manibela is protesting the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board’s alleged falsification of the data on the Public Transport Modernization Program.
READ: Manibela begins nationwide transport strike on March 21
In a Viber message to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said additional buses and trains would be deployed to the Edsa busway and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, respectively.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would also offer free bus rides, she added.
“Our appeal is for our fellow citizens who are already struggling with their daily commute—hopefully, there will be no more strikes. Instead, we urge dialogue so that the new leadership at the DOTr can understand their grievances,” Castro said, quoting Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
