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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) insisted on Saturday that it would implement the reduced physical distancing requirement in public transportation starting Sept. 14 so that more people can go to work despite warnings from the Department of Health. (DOH).
At the same time, the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), an agency under DOTr, also announced that it would reopen 28 more jeepney routes in the cities of Quezon City, Manila, Makati, and Muntinlupa, served by 1,159 jeepneys, on September 14.
The Undersecretary of Transportation, Artemio Tuazón, said that the basis for reducing physical distancing in trains and other public utility vehicles was the growing demand for public transportation and the recommendation of medical experts.
“We have conducted a series of studies with medical experts, which we presented twice to the IATF (Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” Tuazon said at a news conference Saturday.
Tuazon did not identify the medical experts who made the recommendation, but insisted that the DOH, which co-chairs the IATF, was present at both meetings and the IATF approved the DOTr proposal on September 7. The proposal was endorsed by the Cabinet for Economic Development. Cluster.
But on Friday, health officials, including former Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, raised some concerns about reducing physical distancing requirements, as well as a plan to ban home confinement for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. .
Tuazon, however, insisted that “no one can change this policy except the IATF”, and “felt the need to implement this now because this will help our travelers.”
In addition, the Undersecretary of Transportation, Goddes Libiran, said that health and sanitary protocols, such as hand disinfection, thermal controls and the use of a mask and face shield, would continue to be strictly applied.
“If there is an increase in COVID-19 cases [because of the policy], [it] it is subject to change depending on the resulting infections, ”said Libiran. “If there will be any concerns after implementation, interested agencies can talk about it during regular IATF meetings.”
The new policy, according to LTFRB President Martin Delgra, would allow more travelers to get to work faster.
The LTFRB has gradually reopened the mass transit routes in Metro Manila since June 1 to respond to growing demand from workers, employers and public transport operators.
For buses, this could mean an increase of one to three passengers for buses with 2 × 2 coaches, and from six to eight more passengers for 2 × 3 coach buses.
Under the new policy, standing passengers can also be accommodated in modern jeepneys and buses, and the reopening of some routes will bring the number of jeepneys allowed on the road to 17,000.
Jeepney operators would not have to obtain special permission to return to their routes, but their vehicles must display a printed copy of the QR code on their front windshields that operators would have to download from the LTFRB website.
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What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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