DOTr: Public transport still suspended in areas under MECQ
Published May 14, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
Public transport will still be banned in areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) despite the partial resumption of work in some essential industries, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
(ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Based on the guidelines released for areas under MECQ, the DOTr said that only public shuttles will be allowed to ferry frontline workers or those who will return to work in industries permitted to operate by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
However, other public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as jeepneys, taxis, as well as transport network vehicle services (TNVS) including Grab, are still not allowed to operate under a MECQ.
All operations of the railway sector, including the Philippine National Railway, Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, will also remain suspended, the DOTr added.
Meanwhile, for private transport, company shuttles provided for employees will be allowed to operate given that it will only travel with half of its passenger capacity and has obtained a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board for rented shuttles.
“Personal vehicles owned by persons or workers in permitted sectors are also allowed, with two persons per row,” the Department said.
For mobility, as modes of mass transit remain suspended, the use of two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, or e-scooters are allowed. Back-riding, however, is still prohibited.
For air transportation, the DOTr said there will still be no domestic flights and only limited international flights. Inbound travel will be controlled, and only overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning Filipinos will be allowed.
“Biking and non-motorized transport are encouraged, and there will still be no inter-island travel,” the DOTr pointed out.
In areas placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) or those with low risk of transmission of the virus, public transportation facilities will be limited to only 50 percent of its maximum passenger capacity.
All modes of public transport have been suspended since mid-March when the ECQ was put in place. It has seen been extended for nearly two months.
Aside from reducing the carrying capacity of all PUVs, passengers will be required to follow strict health protocols—such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, physical distancing, temperature checks, and other measures—to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
(ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Based on the guidelines released for areas under MECQ, the DOTr said that only public shuttles will be allowed to ferry frontline workers or those who will return to work in industries permitted to operate by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
However, other public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as jeepneys, taxis, as well as transport network vehicle services (TNVS) including Grab, are still not allowed to operate under a MECQ.
All operations of the railway sector, including the Philippine National Railway, Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, will also remain suspended, the DOTr added.
Meanwhile, for private transport, company shuttles provided for employees will be allowed to operate given that it will only travel with half of its passenger capacity and has obtained a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board for rented shuttles.
“Personal vehicles owned by persons or workers in permitted sectors are also allowed, with two persons per row,” the Department said.
For mobility, as modes of mass transit remain suspended, the use of two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, or e-scooters are allowed. Back-riding, however, is still prohibited.
For air transportation, the DOTr said there will still be no domestic flights and only limited international flights. Inbound travel will be controlled, and only overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning Filipinos will be allowed.
“Biking and non-motorized transport are encouraged, and there will still be no inter-island travel,” the DOTr pointed out.
In areas placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) or those with low risk of transmission of the virus, public transportation facilities will be limited to only 50 percent of its maximum passenger capacity.
All modes of public transport have been suspended since mid-March when the ECQ was put in place. It has seen been extended for nearly two months.
Aside from reducing the carrying capacity of all PUVs, passengers will be required to follow strict health protocols—such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, physical distancing, temperature checks, and other measures—to prevent the spread of COVID-19.