House, Palace mobilize 100 buses for commuters during transport strike
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
The House of Representatives joined hands with Malacañang in the deployment of 100 buses that have provided free rides to stranded commuters, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Monday, March 6.
Romualdez noted the daily commuters have suffered the most from the week-long transport strike that started on Monday.
Several commuters in Metro Manila dealt with longer waits and fewer jeepneys as various transport groups went on strike to protest the government’s jeepney modernization program.
This strike pushed through despite President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s call for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to revisit the program’s timetable and implementation.
“Kawawa po naman ang ating mga commuters na sila ang laging naiipit at nahihirapan tuwing magkakaroon ng ganitong transport strike (Our commuters are pitiful because they are the ones bearing the brunt every time there will be a transport strike like this),” Romualdez said as he called the incident “unfortunate”.
“Cognizant of their difficult situation, (we) have taken this joint initiative with Malacañang to ensure stranded commuters will have available rides to their work or home,” he added.
The Speaker said the vehicles were assigned to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which would decide where the buses would be deployed.
Citing the reports reaching him, Romualdez said the first 46 buses dispatced by MMDA provided free rides to 1,380 persons in the metropolis on Monday morning.
As per MMDA’s report, Romualdez cited these buses were deployed in the routes as follow: Baclaran-Sucat, Baclaran –Dapitan, SM Sangandaan-Divisoria, Buendia-Guadalupe, Zobel-Roxas-Dulo (Sta. Ana), DOST Bicutan-Sucat, Alabang-San Pedro, Alabang-Calamba, Philcoa-TM Kalaw, BFCT-Cubao, Monumento-Navotas, and Monumento-Malanday.
If deemed necessary, Romualdez said they would deploy more vehicles for the commuting public during the rest of the transport strike days this week.