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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
March 19, 2026 | 12:36pm
Commuters queue for free bus rides along Elliptical Circle in Quezon City during the nationwide transport strike of transport group Piston on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Michael Varcas / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — Various government agencies will be implementing free rides in different routes across the metro on Thursday, March 19.
This is in line with government efforts to augment the effects of the ongoing fuel crisis due to the Iran-Israel war.
Vehicles from the Office of the President, Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police will be plying these roads from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.:
- Quiapo to Welcome Rotonda
- Welcome Rotonda to Cubao
- Nagtahan to Cubao
- Taft-UN Avenue to PITX
- Lawton to PITX
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said that it will only deploy free rides when a location has a high volume of stranded passengers.
The implementation of free rides comes amid a transport strike aimed at pressuring the government to lower fuel costs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also suspended an approved fare hike, further drawing the ire of drivers and transport groups.
Government efforts to mitigate the fuel crisis have primarily hinged upon providing fuel subsidies to transportation firms and gaining the power to suspend excise tax.
