Public transport supply, capacity still at 50% after NCR, Laguna, Bataan shift to MECQ

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that there will be no changes in the supply and capacity of public transportation following the shift of lockdown status to the relatively lighter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna, and Bataan until end of this month.

According to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, only those identified as authorized persons outside residence (APORs) by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) are allowed to use public transport services.

"As the threat of COVID-19 and Delta variant cases soar, the public should remain vigilant, especially in using public transport. Just like during the ECQ period, there will be stricter enforcement of safety measures to ensure that only APORs are permitted to use public transport, as mandated by the IATF," Tugade was quoted as saying.

As expected, the public utility buses (PUBs) and public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are still allowed to operate with 50-percent capacity, with its passengers following the one-seat-apart rule. Aside from that no standing passengers are allowed.

Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and motorcycle taxi services are permitted to shuttle passengers. Tricycles are also allowed, provided that they only service one passenger per trip — as approved by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in compliance with the existing policies on its operational limitations.

Further, Tugade reiterated that the seven commandments for public transport must be followed. These are:

• The wearing of masks and face shields,
• No talking and making phone calls,
• No eating,
• Keeping public utility vehicles well-ventilated,
• Conduct of regular disinfection,
• No passengers with COVID-19 symptoms are to be allowed inside public transport vehicles,
• Appropriate physical distancing.

Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV

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