The Department of Transportation said Friday it plans to provide assistance to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles that are allowed to operate only 50 percent of their capacity under the general community quarantine rules.
“We are in consultations and in discussions in packaging what we call an assistance package,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Tugade said the government was looking at subsidizing 30 percent of the fuel expenses of PUVs, providing cheap loans and extending loan payments between three months and six months.
“Public transportation in the road sector will be available in areas declared under GCQ but we will strictly impose health safety standards at all times to ensure the safety of our drivers and passengers,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for road transport and infrastructure Mark Richmund de Leon said.
All permitted PUVs and transport terminals and operators should adhere to all three essential components dictated in the protocol/guidelines—safety, capacity and coverage/scope.
Safety refers to guidelines that reduce contact, transmission and spread of the virus through the mandatory use of facemasks and gloves for drivers. Thorough disinfecting practices of vehicles, terminals and even among passengers are also required.
Capacity and passenger load factors will be required for each mode of transportation to ensure that physical distancing is followed. Passenger load for public utility buses and public utility jeepneys should not exceed 50 percent or half of the vehicle’s capacity, excluding driver and conductor.
Passenger load at UV Express and taxis should not exceed two passengers per row, except for the driver’s row where only one passenger is allowed. Tricycles must not exceed one passenger in the side-car, while backriding is not allowed.
Private cars and motorcycles will be allowed to operate for the purpose of essential travels as defined by the Inter-Agency Task Force. Cars will only be allowed one passenger to occupy the front passenger seat, while front-facing seats should not exceed two passengers per row.
Motorcycles are prohibited from having backride passengers. The use of bicycles and similar devices are also highly encouraged, and LGUs are also encouraged to identify bike-lanes or bike-only roads.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III said the official guidelines state that the mode of PUV that would operate in each route in the GCQ areas should be guided by the number of passengers to be transported.
“PUV modes with higher passenger capacity such as buses will be prioritized consistent with the Department Order No. 2017-011 or the ‘Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance’,” he said.
“In areas where buses are not enough to serve the actual passenger demand, or the road characteristics will not permit their operations, PUVMP compliant PUVs are the next priority. In areas with unavailable buses and modern PUVs, PUJ’s and UV Express may operate. In areas were no other mode of public transportation is available, tricycles may be permitted to operate as determined by the LTFRB in coordination with the corresponding LGU,” Delgra said.
The LTFRB already finalized the mechanism for issuing of special permits to allow PUVs to operate. Drivers and operators may apply for the permit, free of charge, through LTFRB offices or by email through LTFRB’s online channels.
Transportation Assistant Secretary for Road Mark Steven Pastor said the guidelines were well thought of and were in line with the policies set by the IATF and DOH on social distancing.
“Social distancing protocols are our priority so we must prioritize vehicles that provide the least physical contact,” Pastor said.
“Modern buses and PUVs have bigger capacity and some are equipped with an Automatic Fare Collection System which prevent physical contact when paying fare so they are our priority choice to transport people in GCQ areas,” Pastor said.
Private vehicle owners, PUV drivers and operators and private or public transport terminal operators who violate the guidelines will be sanctioned and penalized.
The LTFRB, Land Transportation Office, Inter-Agency Council on Traffic and authorized personnel of the IATF against COVID-19 will conduct daily random inspections in terminals and depots to ensure strict compliance with the service, sanitary and operational requirements of the guidelines.
“The DOTr is also calling for the help of enforcement agencies such as PNP and local government units (LGUs) to help ensure that social distancing and sanitation is observed in terminals and vehicles in these municipalities,” said de Leon.
Any mode of public transportation in areas under the extended enhanced community quarantine including Metro Manila is still prohibited.