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MANILA (TO UPDATE) – Bicycle use will be promoted, passengers will be required to wear face masks, while motorcycle taxis will not be allowed when the blockade leads to general community quarantine, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday.
Undersecretary of Transportation Artemio Tuazon Jr. said these were some of the guidelines that will govern public transportation when the enhanced community quarantine ends.
“We will encourage the use of bicycles and personal mobility devices to protect moms (for our citizens),” said Tuazon.
Assistant Secretary of Transportation Mark Richmund De Leon said they are also looking to have dedicated bicycle lanes, but will need to have an allocated budget for infrastructure.
For buses, jeepneys and ferries, Tuazon said these vehicles will only be allowed to load half of their passenger capacity to ensure physical distance between travelers.
Buses will also need thermal scanners to detect passengers who may be showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Bus drivers will also need to be separated from passengers with a waterproof barrier, Tuazon said.
Meanwhile, provincial buses will be required to have a passenger manifest in case contacts need to be located.
Meanwhile, motorcycle taxis, such as Angkas, will not be allowed as this service does not meet guidelines for physical distance, said the Land Transporation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Private motorcycles will also not be allowed to have return passengers.
For private vehicles, only the driver can travel in the front and only 2 passengers in the rear. They are only allowed to operate for the purpose of essential travel as defined by the Interinstitutional Working Group (IATF).
Taxis and carpooling will only allow 2 passengers.
Tricycles, on the other hand, should not exceed 1 passenger in the sidecar, while backing up will not be allowed, DOTr said.
“In areas with unavailable buses and modern PUVs, PUJ and UV Express can operate. In areas where no other form of public transportation is available, tricycles may be allowed to operate as determined by the LTFRB in coordination with the corresponding LGU, ”LTFRB President Martin Delgra III said in a statement.
The LTFRB will issue special permits to allow PUVs to operate and drivers and operators can apply for the permit through LTFRB offices or by email.
To ensure strict compliance with the guidelines, the Office of Ground Transportation (LTO), the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) and IATF staff will conduct daily random inspections of the terminals.
Violators will be penalized, DOTr warned.
“DOTr is also asking for help from enforcement agencies like PNP and local government units (LGU) to help ensure that social distancing and sanitation is observed in terminals and vehicles in these municipalities,” said De Leon.
“Let us do everything possible to safeguard the health of all drivers and travelers in the transport sector.”
