Gov't offers free rides amid bad weather

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered the Department of Transportation and other agencies to offer free public transportation starting at 12 noon due to the heavy downpour and flooding, especially in Metro Manila. 

Commuters don’t need to buy tickets or load their Beep cards when taking the train systems—MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2. 

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Ports Authority were also ordered to deploy free bus and truck rides in the following routes: 

• Quiapo to Angono, Rizal 
• Quiapo to Fairview, Quezon City 
• Lawton to Alabang, Muntinlupa City 

On the other hand, the Office of the Vice President announced that it will extend the operations of its free bus rides until midnight.

The routes of the buses are:

• EDSA Carousel Monumento to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX)
• Quiapo to Commonwealth Avenue
• PITX to Naic, Cavite

Meanwhile, the PITX said that it will waive overnight parking fees tonight given the weather conditions. 

Malacañang suspended classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan at 1 p.m.

State weather bureau PAGASA said earlier in the day that the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will continue to bring rains over the country. 

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Oriental Mindoro will have occasional rains. Floods or landslides are possible due to moderate to heavy rains.

PAGASA also said that monsoon rains may persist in the coming days. —VAL/RF, GMA Integrated News