Manila, March 19 -- More free rides have been deployed by the government, and there have been no stranded passengers monitored during the first day of a transport strike held by transport group Piston, according to a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official on Thursday.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said there have been normal traffic and no stranded passengers monitored through the Emergency Operations Center at the MMDA Metrobase in Makati City since 5 a.m.

"Isang grupo lang naman kasi ang sumali sa transport strike at hindi pa nga natin nadi-deploy ang ating mga emergency dispatch vehicles kasi wala naman tayong nakikita na may mga taong na-stranded (It's only...