MARIKINA City will launch a free ride program using solar-powered and rechargeable e-jeeps to help commuters cope with rising oil prices.
Speaking during the city’s flag ceremony on Monday, Mayor Maan Teodoro said the city has six e-jeeps, four of which were presented during the event and were set for a test drive.
Teodoro said the vehicles would operate as a point-to-point ride system.
The e-jeeps’ routes will be posted on the Marikina Public Information Office Facebook page.
She said the initiative forms part of the city’s broader response aimed at helping commuters in their daily travel.
Beyond transport assistance, Teodoro also talked about complaints about services in the city’s health centers.
She said complaints continued to reach her office about some health workers who were frowning, rude, and in some cases rushing procedures.
“This is not acceptable. Our health centers are the first place people go to when they are sick. This is where they should feel care and not fear or irritation,” the mayor said.
Teodoro said she will form an inspection team to conduct surprise inspections in health centers.
She said the local government would not hesitate to remove employees proven to have violated the directive.
In Manila, more than 100,000 commuters benefited from the city government's “libreng sakay” (free ride) program, which resumed Monday.
On a Facebook post, Mayor Isko Moreno said 1,055 jeepneys offered free rides. In its first two days, 308,738 passengers benefited from the said program.
Moreno advised the public to look for vehicles displaying “LIBRENG SAKAY” signs or approach personnel from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau assisting participating drivers.
The city government is shouldering the daily income of participating jeepney drivers and operators, providing a subsidy of P3,500 per driver per day.
“We may break the record again for delivering such services. Everyone benefited — with only P3,500, people were happy, especially the business sector — their employees were able to arrive on time. Whether they were employees, citizens, or students, there was no problem; the Manila government shouldered it,” Moreno said.
Moreno had announced that the five-day program would be expanded “depending on available funds,” but no announcement has been made on whether it will continue beyond its scheduled end on Wednesday.
