Malacañang on Sunday said the government will strengthen the deployment of public transportation for the three-day planned jeepney strike starting Monday, 24 March.

In a Viber message to reporters, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the deployment of additional buses on the EDSA carousel and trains on the MRT3, LRT1, and LRT2.

Dizon also noted that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will provide free rides to affected areas.

The transport group Manibela earlier said the strike would serve as a protest against the government’s allegedly inaccurate consolidation figures under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

This comes as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reported that the nationwide consolidation rate for public utility vehicles has already reached 86 percent following the deadline for applications.

However, Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena has accused the LTFRB of falsifying consolidation data, claiming that many jeepney operators who joined the program’s consolidation process were deceived.

Meanwhile, Dizon urged the transport group to engage in dialogue with the new DOTr leadership so they can work together to find a more constructive approach to solving transportation woes.

“Panawagan natin na sana para sa ating mga kababayan na hirap na hirap na sa pang-araw-araw na pag-commute, sana huwag nang mag-strike, instead sana mag-usap na lang muna para maintindihan ng bagong liderato sa DOTr ang mga hinaing nila (We appeal to our fellow countrymen who are struggling with daily commuting — we hope that instead of striking, they could have a conversation first so that the new leadership in the DOTr can understand their concerns),” Dizon said.

The planned strike has already caused class cancellations, with some schools and universities opting to shift to online classes due to the expected shortage of jeepneys and resulting traffic congestion.