A Quezon City lawmaker aired strong misgivings Monday over the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to relax physical distancing requirements in public utility vehicles.
Rep. Jesus Suntay said “a more responsive solution” that IATF should have allowed is the opening of more routes and PUVs on the road.
“The main problem stems from the evident lack in Metro Manila with only 28 jeepney routes, 31 bus routes, 18,629 TNVS units, and 4,438 taxis,” said Suntay, chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights.
The IATF recently approved the recommendation of the Economic Development Cluster and the Department of Transportation to ease the physical distancing requirements of one meter between passengers of PUVs.
The allowed physical distancing will be 0.75 meters starting Monday. The distance will be cut to 0.5 meters after two weeks and finally 0.3 meters on Oct. 12.
While this is a welcome development to many PUV drivers and operators, the IATF decision raised serious concerns among commuters.
Suntay said the doubts raised by the public is understandable, considering the high infection rate of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
The QC solon said a more “responsive solution” is to increase the allowable routes and the number of PUVs that will be allowed to ply their routes.
“With more people going back to work amid the pandemic, more routes need to be opened and more operators should be allowed to continue serving commuters,” he said.
Suntay, a member of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, explained that restoring routes will not only give workers better mobility and access, but will also “allow driers to start earning a living to support their families again.”
He added that increasing the number of operational PUVs will also eliminate the need to reduce physical distancing in public transportation.
“With the country starting to flatten the curve, we should not be reducing our health and safety protocols; we should instead move to ensure its proper implementation,” Sunday said.
He added: “Enacting similar plans would be no different from returning to the old normal. “
“Many frontliners have given their time, energy, and even their lives to fight this virus. I implore everyone to do their best to ensure that their heroic sacrifices are not in vain,” he said.