DOTr to provide P2P transport service for health workers, frontliners
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will implement point-to-point (P2P) transportation services for health workers amid the enhanced community quarantine of Luzon to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Nograles said the DOTr will develop the system in cooperation with local government units and upon consultation with the Department of Health.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the DOTr will deploy buses to transport health workers to hospitals starting March 18.
Ten buses will be initially deployed to serve workers at two identified pick-up points: the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and the BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal in Marikina City.
The shuttles will take three routes but are still subject to change depending on the data and requests coming from the Department of Health (DOH).
"The bus service will likewise comply with the DOH containment protocols such as the observance of social distancing, body temperature checks, and regular disinfecting (after every trip) of vehicles," Libiran said.
Vice President Leni Robredo rolled out early Tuesday a similar measure after her office pledged to arrange shuttles for health workers who are having a hard time getting to work.
The measures to provide transportation came following reports of health workers and workers for businesses exempted from the quarantine were forced to find other ways to get to their workers due to the suspension of public transportation.
Among those exempted from the enhanced community quarantine are public and private health workers including hospital personnel and aid workers and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross and the World Health Organization.
President Duterte placed the whole of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine due to the rising threat of COVID-19. The quarantine will last until April 14.
READ MORE: Gov’t to establish P2P transport for health workers
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Nograles said the DOTr will develop the system in cooperation with local government units and upon consultation with the Department of Health.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the DOTr will deploy buses to transport health workers to hospitals starting March 18.
Ten buses will be initially deployed to serve workers at two identified pick-up points: the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and the BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal in Marikina City.
The shuttles will take three routes but are still subject to change depending on the data and requests coming from the Department of Health (DOH).
"The bus service will likewise comply with the DOH containment protocols such as the observance of social distancing, body temperature checks, and regular disinfecting (after every trip) of vehicles," Libiran said.
Vice President Leni Robredo rolled out early Tuesday a similar measure after her office pledged to arrange shuttles for health workers who are having a hard time getting to work.
The measures to provide transportation came following reports of health workers and workers for businesses exempted from the quarantine were forced to find other ways to get to their workers due to the suspension of public transportation.
Among those exempted from the enhanced community quarantine are public and private health workers including hospital personnel and aid workers and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross and the World Health Organization.
President Duterte placed the whole of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine due to the rising threat of COVID-19. The quarantine will last until April 14.
READ MORE: Gov’t to establish P2P transport for health workers