Following the classification of high-risk and low-risk provinces and cities in the country, the Department of Transportation has urged the public to strictly follow the imposed health and safety guidelines for public transportation to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
“Areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine are still considered high-risk,” said Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon who represents the department in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“Our message is to prioritize safety by urging people to stay at home. There is a need for discipline and to follow through safety precautionary measures such as mandatory quarantine, observing social distancing, wearing of face masks/shields, and observing proper sanitation and hygiene.”
On May 16, the cities of Metro Manila along with the provinces of Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Zambales have transitioned into MECQ until May 31, while the rest of the country was placed under general community quarantine.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said under MECQ, select industries are allowed to open but only up to a maximum of 50 percent of their workforce, while more businesses in cities under GCQ were allowed to operate at full capacity.
However, according to guidelines presented by the IATF, public transportation such as trains, buses, taxis, jeepneys, as well as transport network vehicle services including Grab in areas under MECQ remain suspended due to public health safety risks.
The DOTr stressed that transport protocols should still be strictly observed as some forms of private transportation will be allowed in areas under MECQ such as company shuttles, but only at half of their capacity. Personal vehicles (two persons per row), bicycles (one person only), motorcycles (one person only) and E-Scooter (one person only) are also allowed.
Under GCQ, all modes of public transport will be allowed, but on a reduced capacity to observe physical distancing and under guidance of strict safety protocols provided by the DOTr.
Tuazon explained that allowing industries to operate again, despite no public transportation, was pre-conditional.
“The guidelines of the IATF has made it clear that companies and business owners that do not have the capacity to provide transportation services to their employees should not resume operations as this will place their employees at risk,” Tuazon said.
“Meanwhile, in areas under GCQ where more businesses are allowed to re-open, the DOTr is strongly urging the public to observe the issued public transport guidelines. We do not want our public transport to become transmission vectors of the disease,” he added.
