(Speaker’s office)

The Speaker Martin Romualdez-led House of Representatives collaborated on Mionday, Nov. 20 with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to deploy vehicles offering free rides to Filipinos affected by the transport strike. 

Tapped for the purpose by the House were five buses marked "rescue vehicles". 

“The House of the People is always working in collaboration with the Marcos government through the MMDA to alleviate the inconvenience caused to commuters by the transport strike," Romualdez said in a statement Tuesday, Nov. 21. 

"We have taken this joint initiative to ensure that stranded commuters have available rides to their work or home," the Speaker said. 

“During this period of strike, I commend MMDA acting chair [Romando] Artes for working with us in ensuring the continued accessibility of reliable public transportation services,” said Romualdez, who is Leyte’s 1st district representative. 

MMDA and the House of Representatives have deployed five buses since Monday to augment the number of vehicles provided by local governments and other agencies offering free rides to the affected commuters. 

“We thank the leadership of Speaker Romualdez for responding and helping our objective that commuters would not suffer from this transport strike,” Artes said. 

Artes said the five buses were deployed on the following routes: SUCAT-Baclaran, Pasig-Momumento-Quiapo, Philcoa-Doña carmen, Parañaque City to City Hall, and Antipolo-Quiapo. 

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) led the three-day transport strike to protest against the upcoming deadline for the consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP). 

However, it was reported that the first day of the strike fizzled out.