Gov't deploys buses for free rides amid transport strike

Government deployed buses Thursday to provide free rides to commuters affected by the transportation strike.

In an advisory, the Department of Transportation said buses from the DOTr, Office of the President, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police will ply the following routes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Quiapo to Welcome Rotonda,
• Welcome Rotonda to Cubao, 
• Nagtahan to Cubao, 
• Taft-UN to PITX, and 
• Lawton to PITX.

This in response to the order of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to ensure that the public will have rides. 

The Quezon City Police District also provided free rides to commuters in Philcoa, Quezon City.

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Quezon City Police District (QCPD), nagbigay ng libreng sakay sa mga pasahero sa bahagi ng Philcoa sa Quezon City, sa gitna ng kilos-protesta ng PISTON at iba pang grupo. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/zrPaDNcLd5

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 19, 2026

Transport groups kicked off Thursday morning a nationwide transport strike amid the surge in pump prices due to the Middle East conflict. 

Members of PISTON gathered at Welcome Rotonda in Manila to urge the government to take action as fuel prices are expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks. Transport strikes were also held in other areas such as Pasig, Bulacan, and Iloilo.

PISTON said they will hold more rallies, unless the government heed their call.

"May mga susunod pa po kaming pagkilos. Ito po ay tuloy-tuloy hangga't hindi po nadidinig ang aming hinahing at hindi po napapakinggan. Tuloy-tuloy po ito," said PISTON member Regie Manlapig in an interview on Unang Balita

(There will be more protest actions. This will continue until our cries are not heard and are not listened to. This will continue.)

Among their call, is the removal of excise tax to ease the surge in pump prices.

"Unang-una po panawagan namin. Tanggalin na po muna sana 'yung mga ipinapataw sa petrolyo para po magkaroon naman po ng pagbaba at makagaan po para sa aming mga sektor ng transportasyon, lalo na sa mga driver na kahit papaano may way pa po kaming kita," he added.

(First and foremost, our call is to remove the taxes on petroleum so that there will be a reduction and relief for our transportation sectors, especially for drivers who, so they can still earn a living.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News