DOTr offers free rides amid transport strike

The Department of Transportation and other government agencies offered free rides Wednesday to commuters affected by the transport strike.

In an advisory, free rides will be available from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the following routes:

• Welcome Rotonda-Fairview and vice versa
• Recto-Cubao via Nagtahan vice versa
• Quiapo-Cubao via E. Rodriguez and vice versa
• Quiapo-Fairview and vice versa
• Kalentong-Pasig Palengke and vice versa
• PITX-Lawton and vice versa.

The DOTr said the free rides are in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos to ensure that commuters will have a ride during the transport strike.

The initiative is in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Energy, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, the Department of Labor and Employment.

Transport group MANIBELA began its two-day transport strike on Wednesday to oppose the mega oil price hike that took effect Tuesday. —AOL, GMA News