Manila: Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has mandated the deployment of additional vehicles to support the 'Libreng Sakay (free ride)' initiative during the ongoing transport strike carried out by two groups. This decision comes in response to directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aiming to alleviate commuter difficulties.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lopez instructed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to utilize their service vehicles for this purpose. Currently, the LTFRB has allocated 20 service vehicles, with half operating on the Fairview-Quiapo route and the others on the SM Masinag-Quiapo route.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has deployed 12 vehicles offering free rides at key locations, including Philcoa, Commonwealth, Aurora Boulevard, Monumento, Quirino Highway, and Fairview. These efforts complement the buses from the Office of the President (OP), Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and Department of Energy covering routes such as Philcoa-Cubao, Welcome Rotonda-Cubao, Lawton-Welcome Rotonda, Lawton-PITX, Nagtahan-Cubao, and Commonwealth-Fairview.

Lopez emphasized that the Libreng Sakay program should persist beyond the strike to continue serving passengers. In addition, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao has ordered mobile patrol vehicles to offer free rides, covering areas like Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez, Fairview, Las Pi±as, Quirino Highway, Commonwealth, Philcoa, Monumento, and Caloocan.

Manibela Chair Mar Valbuena previously announced protests across 20 locations in Metro Manila and other major cities, involving drivers from various transport sectors. Meanwhile, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) has called for the repeal of the 'Oil Deregulation Law' to curb 'profiteering' in the energy industry.