Filipino commuters who brave the rain to make an honest living are made of sterner stuff, but not everyone can weather the storms and floods. Thankfully, the Philippine government is doing something that would make their lives even just a little bit more bearable.
Government agencies are going to give free rides to stranded commuters in flooded areas in Metro Manila, an official said earlier today.
Lawyer Aileen Lizada, a spokesperson from the Department of Transport (DOTr), announced on radio show Failon Ngayon that starting today, the public can request free rides by calling hotline 136.
Lizada added that the DOTr will deploy trucks and buses to help stranded commuters get to and from four specific routes.
Four trucks from the Armed Forces of the Philippines will ply the Commonwealth Circle, Quezon City to Quiapo, Manila route.
Meanwhile, there will also be four Philippine Coast Guard trucks that will ply the Monumento, Caloocan to Pedro Gil via Taft Avenue route.
Lizada also stated that DOTr will deploy two trucks to an area near the United States Embassy to transport commuters heading to Baclaran, Manila via Roxas Boulevard.
She added that there will be two buses courtesy of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that will traverse EDSA-Timog in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Manila and vice versa.
Meanwhile, the MMDA has also lifted the number coding for city buses and private vehicles, according to The Philippine Daily Inquirer. This means all buses and privately-owned transport can traverse the roads, regardless of their plate number.
Classes are suspended in Metro Manila and in some provinces today due to inclement weather brought about by tropical depression Henry.
The government also suspended classes in public schools and work in government offices in the metro yesterday.
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