Manila: The government has deployed free ride vehicles and relief assistance as the southwest monsoon or "habagat" continues to bring moderate to heavy rains over parts of Luzon and the Visayas. In a statement on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the Coast Guard District National Capital Region - Central Luzon provided hauling and loading assistance for the second relief operation of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), dubbed "Hatid Tulong sa Sambayanan," at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the activity was conducted as part of ongoing relief efforts for families and communities affected by the recent calamity in various municipalities in Bulacan. The mission is part of the PCG's Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (iCARE) program and supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to step up disaster response and deliver timely assistance to communities affected by the monsoon rains.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has deployed vehicles to provide free rides to passengers in parts of Metro Manila amid the inclement weather. Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the move aligns with the President's directive to ensure commuters have access to transportation and that their journeys remain uninterrupted despite the weather.
"Nag-deploy po tayo ng mga vehicle assets ng DOTr para alalayan ang ating mga pasahero. Nagpapasalamat din po tayo sa iba't ibang government agencies na kasama nating nagbibigay ng libreng sakay. We'll make sure po na may masasakyan ang ating mga komyuter at hindi maaabala ang kanilang biyahe (We have deployed DOTr vehicle assets to assist our passengers. We also thank the various government agencies that are with us in providing free rides. We will make sure that our commuters have transportation and that their journeys will not be disrupted)," he said in a statement.
The free ride routes include Divisoria-Monumento, Kalentong-Pasig, and Lawton-PITX, and vice versa. The DOTr is joined by the Office of the President, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Energy in providing the free rides.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the southwest monsoon is affecting Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the Visayas, while the trough of Tropical Depression Krovanh (formerly Pilandok) is bringing rains to Northern Luzon. PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Aklan, and Antique.
