DOTr to deploy more Libreng Sakay rides amid transport strike

The Department of Transportation will deploy additional free rides as an ongoing transport strike continues to affect commuters.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Thursday, Mar. 26, that he has directed agencies to increase vehicle deployment under the “Libreng Sakay” program during the second week of the protest staged by two transport groups.

Among those tapped are the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which mobilized service vehicles following a directive from Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..

"Sisiguruhin po natin na may masasakyan po ang ating mga pasahero ngayong may tigil-pasada. May sapat po tayong vehicle assets para maalalayan ang mga komyuter," Lopez said in a statement. "At kami po sa DOTr ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na tumulong sa pagbibigay ng libreng sakay. Malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga komyuter."

DOTr said the LTFRB has already deployed 20 service vehicles, 10 of which are traversing the Fairview-Quiapo route while the other half are on the SM Masinag – Quiapo route.

Meanwhile, the LTO has deployed 12 service vehicles that offer free rides to passengers in Philcoa, Commonwealth, Aurora Boulevard, Monumento, Quirino Highway, and Fairview.

“The vehicles deployed by LTO and LTFRB are in addition to buses deployed by the Office of the President, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and Department of Energy to ply the routes Philcoa-Cubao, Welcome Rotonda-Cubao, Lawton-Welcome Rotonda, Lawton-PITX, Nagtahan-Cubao, and Commonwealth-Fairview,” Lopez added.

He also said the Libreng Sakay program may continue in the coming days, even after the strike, to further assist commuters.

Transport groups Manibela and PISTON have staged protests in at least 20 areas across Metro Manila and key cities nationwide.