By Minka Klaudia Tiangco The Manila city government announced that 189 e-tricycles will be deployed to transport frontline health workers to public hospitals in Manila amid the enhanced community quarantine. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
(Manila City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In his city address on Thursday, Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said jeepney drivers, who were suddenly left jobless during the month-long quarantine, will be hired to operate the e-tricycles. "You will have work and pay. That is the assistance that the national government, under the Office of the President and through the Department of Labor and Employment, can give you," Domagoso said. "Meron tayong sweldong arawan, pero ang trabaho natin, ukol pa rin sa labanan, tulong na labanan ang COVID-19 (You will be paid a daily salary, but the work that you do is still in line with our fight against the coronavirus disease)," he added. According to the Manila Public Information Office (PIO), the e-tricycles are only allowed to service health workers and will be assigned to the city's six district hospitals, namely the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Maynila, and Sta. Ana Hospital. Four air-conditioned buses that will used to augment the e-tricycles were presented to the city mayor on Wednesday afternoon. The Manila City government also received three brand new Toyota Fortuner SUVs from Toyota Motor Philippines that will also be used to transport health workers. In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, President Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine from March 17 to April 12. However, thousands of health workers struggled to report to their workplaces after mass transportation was banned, leaving others no choice but to walk long distances to and from the hospitals. Earlier, the local chief executive ordered all hotels and motels in the country's capital to provide free accommodation to health care workers, especially to those living outside Manila. More than 600 rooms in various hotels are now available for the health workers. Almost 500 workers have availed of the free accommodation. Several local government units, government agencies, and private entities have also offered free rides to frontline health workers.