How about mass transport commuters? DOH to tackle challenges of ‘vulnerable population’

MANILA, Philippines — While the Department of Health is suggesting social distancing as one of the possible ways to curb the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a lawmaker asked: How about those in poor communities and those using mass public transport?

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted that addressing coronavirus – related concerns of those in poor communities and those using mass public transport is a “big challenge.”

During the House Committee on Health’s meeting on COVID-19 status and response, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate lamented how despite the threat posed by COVID-19, many take mass public transport such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) to simply get to work.

Zarate then asked Duque if the health department has any plans to address this.

“Yung sinasabi nating social distancing, isa ito sa mga pamamaraan para ma-delay yung epidemic peaking kung tawagin (We are saying that social distancing is one of the ways to delay what we call as the epidemic peaking),” Duque said.

“At ako na mismo ang umaamin na yung pagtugon naman sa mga ating mas mahihirap na mga kababayan, yung mga informal settlers, yung mga sumasakay sa mass public transport, talagang malaking hamon po ito,” he added.

(I, myself, admit that addressing concerns of our poor countrymen like informal settlers as well as those who take mass public transportation systems is really a big challenge.)

Duque said he will meet with the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to address concerns surrounding the “special vulnerable population.”

“There should be special arrangements like work from home, tapos ‘yung sa mga mass gathering, hanggang sa maaari, maiwasan ito,” Duque said.

Duque said there are 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country as of Wednesday morning.

Of this number, 31 are deemed to be “mild to moderate” cases while the remaining two are “critical.”

GSG