Magalong to jeepney, taxi drivers: Leave Baguio streets or face arrest

BAGUIO CITY –– Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday cautioned drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and taxis against plying the streets while a Luzon-wide community quarantine was in effect.

Magalong issued the warning after learning that some PUJs and taxis were still plying the city even after President Duterte suspended public and mass transportation in Luzon as part of the enhanced community quarantine.

“I am giving them (PUJ and taxi drivers) only 30 minutes to leave the streets and park their vehicles or they will face arrest,” Magalong said in a statement.

Magalong said the local police would issue a special pass for vehicles that would deliver or transport essentials. These include people going to work, food, groceries, medical supplies, agricultural products, including animal food and implements, liquefied petroleum gas and petroleum products, and utilities.

The guidelines issued by Malacañang on the enhanced community quarantine will also impose strict home quarantine in all households, regulate provision for food and essential services, and heighten the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedure.

Duterte’s declaration was aimed at containing the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus disease of COVID-19.

Edited by Lzb