QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila on Monday, March 6, implemented various strategies and services aimed at mitigating the impact of the week-long, massive transport strike to the riding public.

In Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte directed the city's Traffic and Transport Management Department to deploy buses to areas with a high number of stranded passengers.

These areas include Cubao, Commonwealth Avenue, Welcome (Mabuhay) Rotonda, Novaliches Bayan, East Avenue, Quezon Memorial Circle and Fairview Area.

Belmonte also instructed all villages to use their service vehicles to provide free rides in their communities.

In Manila, Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan oversees the deployment of more than 300 vehicles that will provide ‘libreng sakay’ (free rides) on early Monday morning.

Different vehicles from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and Manila Police District were deployed by the mayor to provide free rides to commuters during rush hours.

Under the Oplan Libreng Sakay, more than 280 e-trikes were also deployed to provide free transport within secondary roads, while 32 vehicles ranging from buses, pick-up, and trucks were designated in major thoroughfares.

The following routes will be available for the public from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.:

Vito Cruz Taft Ave - Quezon Blvd., Espana Blvd; - Welcome Rotonda, Abad Santos Ave.; - R. Papa Rizal Ave.; UN Taft Ave. - R. Papa Rizal Ave.; Recto Ave. - SM Sta. Mesa; UN Taft Ave. - P. Ocampo St.; Monumento Rizal Ave. – Divisoria; Buendia Taft Ave. – Divisoria; Buendia Taft Ave. - Monumento Rizal Ave.; Buendia Taft Ave. - Welcome Rotonda.

In Caloocan City, Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan ordered deployment throughout the duration of the jeepney strike.

In Malabon City, Mayor Jeannie Sandoval has recommended to private companies and institutions to have a skeleton force or rotating assignment of workers for them not to be directly affected by the strike.

Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco also said the city is ready to provide free shuttle services to Navoteños.

The city's 18 villages have also committed to utilize their service vehicles to provide free rides, Tiangco said.

In Valenzuela, Mayor Wes Gatchalian utilized all their vehicles to provide transportation for public commuters despite the assurance from several associations of jeepney operators and drivers in the city that they will not join.

Valenzuela fielded eight trucks at four major routes in the city; four trucks along MacArthur Highway, Malanday to Marulas route; one truck for Malanday to Polo route; two trucks for Malinta to Novaliches route; and one truck for Polo to Monumento route.

The city governments of San Juan and Mandaluyong have joined other Metro Manila cities in implementing blended learning in schools, and providing libreng sakay during the nationwide public transportation strike.

In coordination with the Schools Division Office, all public schools in Mandaluyong City were instructed to implement blended distance learning modalities from March 6 to 10.

According to the Mandaluyong City Public Information Office (PIO), the decision was made to “ensure unhampered delivery of education services amidst the scheduled transport strike, unless revoked.”

Meanwhile, all government service vehicles in the San Juan City local government, including vehicles in the city’s 21 barangays and public schools, will give free rides to commuters from March 6 to 10, in accordance with Executive Order No. 140, series of 2023.

The routes to be followed in San Juan are as follows: N. Domingo (Agora) to/from Ortigas (Connecticut); N. Domingo (Agora) to/from N. Domingo (Broadway); N. Domingo (Agora) to/from F. Blumentritt (Kalentong); F. Manalo (Kalentong) to/from P. Guevarra (corner Wilson); Bus Loop (Stops: F. Blumentritt, N. Domingo, Pinaglabanan, Santolan, Ortigas, Wilson).

San Juan City also allowed tricycles to ply the main streets during the transport strike.

The city government of Marikina, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) issued a directive suspending face-to-face classes from March 6-11 in all levels, both in private and public schools.

Posted on their social media account, Marikina Public Information Office (PIO) said the move was made to mitigate effect of the transport strike on the commuting public, especially students attending their classes.

In Taguig City, Mayor Lani Cayetano offers libreng sakay for commuters that will be affected by the transport strike throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces on March 6-12, 2023, starting at 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Taguig lgu offers free ride in the following routes: Route 1: Bagumbayan → Cayetano Blvd. corner General Luna (vice versa); Route 2. Napindan/Tipas/Sta. Ana → Cayetano Blvd. corner General Luna (vice versa); Route 3. Waterfun → Market-Market (vice versa); Route 4. Waterfun → Gate-3 (vice versa); Route 5. DOST → Market-Market (vice versa); Route 6. BCDA Petron → Market-Market (vice versa); Route 7. Cayetano corner Gen. Luna → Petron BCDA.

The public is notified that the vehicles to be deployed by the city will have signage that reads "Libreng Sakay hatid ng City of Taguig" (Free Rides courtesy of the Taguig LGU) and will have official logo of the city.

In Pasig City, the city government provides libreng sakay to affected commuters in the following routes: Pasig Mega Market to Shaw Boulevard (Vice Versa); Pasig Mega Market to Ligaya via Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave. (Vice Versa); Pasig Mega Market to Kalawaan to San Joaquin to Pasig Mega Market (Loop); Pasig Mega Market to Ligaya via C. Raymundo Ave. (Vice Versa); Pasig Mega Market to Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave. to Rosario to C. Raymundo Ave. to Pasig Mega Market (Loop).

As early as 5 a.m., Muntinlupa City Mayor Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa City  through the Traffic Management Bureau (MTMB) deployed vehicles to provide free rides to affected commuters in the  following routes, from March 6-12, 2023, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.: RMT to Alabang Viaduct and vice versa (National Road); Alabang Viaduct to Sucat and vice versa (East Service Road);  South Station to Sucat and vice versa (West Service Road); South Station to Buencamino and vice versa (Alabang-Zapote Road); Biazon Road (Southville III); Sucat to Poblacion and vice versa (Baybayin).

Mayor Imelda Aguilay of Las Piñas City deployed two coasters and one rescue truck to offer lIbreng sakay to commuters who will be affected by the transport groups’ weeklong strike.

The City Government said the coasters and the rescue truck will ferry the affected commuters from March 6 to 12, starting at 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the following routes: Zapote Road going to Honda Daang Hari, Zapote going to Kabihasnan in Parañaque, and along Marcos Alvarez Road.

In Pasay City, Mayor Emi Calixto through the Pasay City Traffic and Parking Management Office (PTPMO), Pasay City Tricycle Pedicab Regulatory Office (PTPRO), and Pasay City Police provide libreng sakay in the following routes from March 6-12, 2023, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Malibay - Libertad (vice versa); Cabrera - Libertad (vice versa); Malibay - SM MOA (vice versa); Kalayaan - MOA (vice versa)

Besides the service vehicles, (10) back-to-back mobile police vehicles of the Pasay City Police are roaming the city to assist stranded commuters.

In Pateros, Mayor Miguel Ponce III reserved three (3) vehicles for libreng sakay starting Monday and have earmarked a considerable amount for the gasoline. “We can augment number of vehicles if we will see the need to do it,” he said.

The mayor has also advised schools to adopt preemptive measures to cushion the possible effect of transport strike to its students.

In Makati, a post in their official Facebook page says the number coding scheme will be lifted in Makati City, March 6, 2023, due to the transport strike.

It can be recalled that transport groups Manibela, PISTON, and Laban TNVS protest against what they perceive as the imminent phaseout of traditional jeepneys. (PIA-NCR)