Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO
MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto proves that he and his local government unit are always a step ahead in the country’s fight against COVID-19.
As per Top Gear Philippines, the city government of Pasig partnered with Global Electric Transport (GET) and received two COMET electric vehicles that will transport health frontliners and city personnel around for free within the territory.
GET lent the two shuttle buses to the City of Pasig.
This was Sotto and his LGU’s response after the Department of the Interior and Local Government rejected Pasig City’s request to allow tricycles in the locale to transport health workers.
The COMET electric vehicles, which are emission-free, will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. within a designated route starting from Pasig City Hall to Sheridan, then pass by Rizal Medical Center then back to the city proper, the main city hall, and barangay Pinagbuhatan.
GET also offered a service team of drivers to Pasig City.
In accordance with the national government’s social distancing protocol, each bus will only accommodate 10 people although the vehicle has a maximum capacity of 20 seated and 10 standing passengers.
Kylie Tinga, sustainable transport specialist of GET, said in the report that each shuttle bus will be properly disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus.
“After every ride, the vehicle is sterilized as per the standards of the Pasig City government, and the vehicle is not allowed to depart until it has been deemed appropriately sanitized,” said Tinga.
This was just one of the measures Sotto implemented with the Pasig LGU procuring disinfectant drones that will fly across the city to fight the spread of COVID-19.