By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Thursday ordered attached agencies to deploy more vehicles for the “Libreng Sakay (free ride)” program during the second week of the transport strike by two groups.
In a statement, Lopez ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to deploy their service vehicles and help out commuters based on the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
To date, the LTFRB has already deployed 20 service vehicles, 10 of which are plying the Fairview-Quiapo route, while another 10 are plying the SM Masinag – Quiapo route.
On the other hand, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) deployed 12 service vehicles to provide 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 (OP), 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 said in Filipino.
He added that the Libreng Sakay program must continue in the coming days, even if the transport strike ends, to assist more passengers.
In a separate statement, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao ordered the deployment of mobile patrol vehicles to provide free rides for commuters.
These vehicles are providing free rides to passengers along Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez, Fairview, Las Piñas, Quirino Highway, Commonwealth, Philcoa, Monumento, Caloocan, and other parts of Metro Manila where commuters need transportation.
Earlier, Manibela Chair Mar Valbuena said their transport group is staging protests in 20 different areas in Metro Manila and other major cities in the country, and includes drivers of jeepneys, buses, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), motorcycle taxis, as well as members of commuter groups.
On the other hand, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) in a statement demanded the dismantling of the “Oil Deregulation Law” to control “profiteering” in the energy sector. (PNA)
