The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will suspend the operations of its Central Office in Quezon City beginning Monday after five of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said Saturday the Central Office will be temporarily closed from July 13, Monday, to July 17, Friday, to give way to disinfection of facilities.
"Dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon sa tanggapan ng LTFRB, at para sa kaligtasan ng mga empleyado, ang aming mga stakeholders, at ng publiko, napagpasya naming itigil muna ang operasyon ng LTFRB Central Office simula sa Lunes. Hindi pinapayagang pumasok sa opisina ang mga tauhan ng ahensya (Due to the current situation in the LTFRB office and for the safety of our employees, stakeholders, and the public, we have decided to suspend the operations at the LTFRB Central Office starting Monday. No agency personnel will be allowed to enter the premises)," Delgra announced.
According to Delgra, the Philippine Red Cross, with the Philippine Coast Guard, conducted a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test among the agency's employees and five tested positive for the respiratory disease.
"Nangyari po lahat ‘yan habang mahigpit na sinusunod ng ahensya ang mga public safety protocols tulad ng pagsusuot ng face mask, paghuhugas ng kamay at paggamit ng alcohol at sanitizer, regular na pag-disinfect ng opisina, at social distancing (All of this happened while the agency strictly followed public safety protocols such as wearing of face mask, frequent washing of hands and using alcohol and sanitizer, regular disinfection of offices, and social distancing)," Delgra explained.
Delgra assured that the agency's services will still continue despite fewer work force this week due to the suspension of operations at the Central Office.
The LTFRB chief advised the public to transact with them online or through the LTFRB-National Capital Region's Public Transport Online Processing System (PTOPS).
The transactions available online include requests for special permits, confirmation of units, franchise verification, and issuance or extension provisional authority, as well as legal concerns or query on hearing schedule or status, the LTFRB said.