Even in the face of a prolonged transport strike, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Saturday said traffic management authorities are ready to support the riding public and motorists amid the holiday rush.

MMDA chair Atty. Romando Artes assured that the inter-agency coordination with local government units is in place for the nationwide transport strike by PISTON and MANIBELA from 18 to 29 December.

"If they say that their transport strike will last two weeks, then we're also ready for the next two weeks to minimize the inconvenience to the riding public," Artes said.

The two public transport groups announced the new protest action on the second day of a two-day transport strike.

The announcement is a rejection of the yearend deadline of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to consolidate public utility vehicle operators, expressing frustration with the government's rollout of its transport modernization program.

Artes said one measure to mitigate the impact of the transport strike, is to provide free rides in areas where many commuters are monitored to have difficulty securing transportation.

"As long as it takes, our government is ready to respond to the extended transport strike. We have an inter-agency task force on the strikes… which answers the needs of motorists. We quickly deploy free rides in places with a high concentration of commuters," the MMDA chief said.

The MMDA will deploy over 2,000 traffic enforcers for the Christmas rush, with a "no leave, no absence" policy in effect for its personnel.

The MMDA said the bulk of the deployment will be in the evening as shoppers are expected to troop to the malls for late-night shopping.

Artes said they expected heavier traffic because of the last-minute shopping of our countrymen.

The assessment was that commuter foot traffic on Friday was normal, and not brought about by the transport strike which is based on monitoring, only a few drivers and operators joined the strike.

Artes noted that heavy traffic was monitored even in the Mabuhay Lanes during payday Friday.

He also assured that MMDA personnel and policemen are investigating reported incidents of harassment by protesters against other drivers who refused to participate in the strike.

On the other hand, MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said the effects of the two-day transport strike were most felt in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas.

He said commuters' sentiments were the best gauge of the transport strike's impact, instead of policy-makers who do not ride PUVs.

The group has been clamoring and waiting for a call from Malacañang, but this has yet to come.

Asked if the protesters were losing hope for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to issue an Executive Order to extend the PUV consolidation deadline, Valbuena said: "We are doing this because we believe that there is still hope to save our livelihoods, that the President will listen to us and understand that he is being provided incorrect data."

He said PISTON and MANIBELA were ready to extend the transport strike even beyond 29 December.