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While the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) persists, President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to maintain the requirement of physical distancing of 1 meter in public transport, his spokesman announced this Saturday.
In an interview with state-run PTV-4, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the president made the decision on Friday after weighing recommendations from “both sides.”
At the same time, Roque said in Filipino that the directive also includes the use of masks and face shields, the prohibition of talking and eating and the proper disinfection of public transport.
Duterte made the decision after some medical experts and government officials opposed the implementation of the reduced physical distancing requirement in public transportation for fear that it could lead to an increase in Covid-19 infections.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced earlier this month that it would begin easing the distancing measures required in public transportation as the government reopens the economy.
The new rule promoted by DoTr and the Economic Development Cluster, however, received criticism from Internet users and from various sectors.
The Metro Manila City Council, made up of mayors from the National Capital Region, had said it was also not consulted by the Department of Commerce.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade defended the decision, saying it was the product of investigation and simulation by the Philippine National Railways. The DoTr said the distance between the passengers would initially be reduced to 0.75 meters starting next week, below the distance of 1 meter recommended by the World Health Organization. This will be further adjusted after two weeks to 0.5 meters from September 28, then 0.3 meters on October 12, to allow more passengers.
Since the application of the general community quarantine, all modes of public transport have been authorized to operate at a limited capacity.
As of Friday, the Philippines recorded 279,526 Covid-19 cases with 4,830 deaths and 208,790 recoveries.
While scientific studies recently showed the flattening of the curve, the government has asked the public to continue to observe health protocols, such as wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and observing safe distancing from others, to avoid infections
The public has been advised to be vigilant and is not pleased to further slow the spread of the virus.
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