TRAIN rides in Metro Manila will be free to the public from November 10 to 11 due to the effects of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Sunday.
Per orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., train rides at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and -2) will be free, according to the DOTr in a statement. “Due to the bad weather brought by Typhoon Uwan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the DOTr to implement free rides on MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 for the entire day from November 10 to 11,” the DOTr said.
In addition to the free train rides, buses offering free rides will also be deployed by the Office of the President, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and the office of Senator Erwin Tulfo on November 10. “Free rides will be available all day on buses plying the routes Quiapo–Fairview, Quiapo–Angono, Lawton–Alabang, Roxas Boulevard–Sucat, and Taft–Cubao,” said the DOTr.
The DOTr also announced that the PPA has already waived terminal fees for RoRos delivering rescue equipment and relief goods to areas affected by Uwan. Cargo fees for delivering the same in local airlines have also been waived, as well as expressway tolls for emergency response and rescue vehicles.
“The full force of the Department of Transportation is now focused on assisting our fellow citizens affected by Super Typhoon Uwan,” said acting DOTr chief Giovanni Lopez. “The President has given strict orders to do everything possible to expedite the delivery of aid to our fellow citizens affected by the typhoon. That’s why we immediately mobilized all transportation sectors to help speed up the government’s relief and rescue operations,” he added.
