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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider LGUs urged to provide free rides to stranded health workers

LGUs urged to provide free rides to stranded health workers

Published Mar 17, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez 

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the concerned local government units (LGU) to provide rides to the health workers as operations of public transport were suspended after the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was declared.

DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya (DILG 10 via PIA / MANILA BULLETIN) DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya
(DILG 10 via PIA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya issued the statement after hundreds of commuters which included health workers were stranded at the checkpoints and terminals with the suspension of the mass transportation system in Luzon in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine guidelines.

He noted the DILG and other concerned agencies are currently mapping out plans that will provide shuttle services to the stranded commuters.

Malaya said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año instructed the LGUs to help ferry the stranded commuters.

But as of press time, to clear mechanics as to how the shuttle service assistance will be provided to the commuters.

In the guidelines announced by Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles Monday night, private establishments providing basic necessities and activities related to food and medicine production such as hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores are exempted from the enhanced community quarantine which required the people to stay home.

Banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies and facilities should also remain open during the quarantine period, which will end on April 13.

Stranded commuters along the Batasan-San Mateo Road which included a nurse working at a public hospital in Quezon City lamented it should have been mandatory for the LGUs, PNP and national government to provide shuttle services for them.

“What meeting are they talking about? The concerned agencies should have had the foresight to give the frontliners like us free rides,’’ the nurse claimed.

The enhanced community quarantine ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte is aimed at preventing the further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has so far infected 142 people with 12 deaths in the country as of Monday.

Meanwhile, Malaya warned that food establishments that remained open for dine-in customers will be permanently closed for disobeying the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

He appealed to the food establishment owners not to force their employees to report to work except those who are assigned in their food delivery section.

Some restaurants along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City are open only for take-out orders as menus were handed out to the customers outside the establishment’s premises. (Chito Chavez)

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