The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Saturday announced the suspension of the truck ban policy while the National Capital Region is under the modified enhanced community quarantine status (MECQ).
“The MMDA’s enforcement of truck ban is suspended along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to ensure unhampered movement of essential goods during the implementation of the MECQ from August 21 to 31, 2021,” the agency said in its advisory.
The Department of Transportation, on the other hand, said vaccinated Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) will continue to enjoy free rides on LRT-2, MRT-3 and Philippine National Railways on selected hours until Aug. 31.
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade said the inclusive hours per rail line are as follows: MRT-3 peak hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), LRT-2 off-peak hours ( 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and PNR off-peak hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
“Any further extension of the free ride program for vaccinated APORs will be later re-evaluated depending on changes in the quarantine status of Metro Manila, and the operational requirements of the rail lines,” Tugade said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House committee on transportation, Rep. Egdar Sarmiento, urged the DoTr to adopt a “bakuna-for-ayuda” campaign to encourage public utility drivers to get inoculated against COVID-19.
He said the cash aid can be sourced partly from the P3 billion Bayanihan 2 fund allotted under the 2021 budget.