OVP’s free shuttle service for COVID-19 crisis frontliners. OVP Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday that their offer of free shuttle service for COVID-19 crisis frontliners will last until the end of the enhanced community quarantine on April 14.
And should the lockdown extend, Robredo said in her radio show “Biserbisyong Leni” with anchor Ely Saludar that her team is already coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to continue the service.
READ: Robredo backs lockdown extension
“Kung ma-e-extend pa iyong enhanced community quarantine, nakipag-usap na kami sa DOTr,” she said, noting that DOTr has its own free shuttle routes.
According to the Vice President, Tugade has been receptive to their recommendations. “Iyong lahat na natutunan namin, lahat na naaral, iyong lahat na stops, lahat na ruta, iyong lahat na na-gather namin, sinulat namin sa DOTr at nag-text na nga si Secretary Tugade.”
(All of the lessons we have learned, all the studies we have made, all the stops, all the routes, everything that we have gathered, we wrote it and sent it to DOTr and Secretary Tugade already replied.)
“Ano siya, very open na i-adopt nila iyong aming mungkahi. Kaya sana, sana ito iyong maganda rin na bunga ng karanasan natin.”
(He is very open to adopting our recommendations. I hope this is something good that came out of our experience.)
“Iyong pinaka-unang mungkahi namin, hindi lang i-expand iyong routes pero magkaroon ng definite time bawat stop kasi kung magta-timing-timing lang kasi iyong mga sasakay, sayang sa oras,” she also said.
(Our first recommendation is not only to expand the routes but to have a definite time per stop because if passengers will have to take a chance [on the stop], time is wasted.)
Robredo said her team recommends using eight buses for eight routes. The service currently has nine buses for eight routes that ferry up to 450 people a day.
Robredo likewise said they have been using social media to keep frontliners informed of the routes.
“Kaya nama-maximize din namin—iyong ginagawa namin naka-post sa Facebook ano iyong mga stop sa bawat ruta tapos anong oras doon dadaan para hindi kailangang sobrang aga nag-aabang. Pupunta lang sila kapag dadaan na iyong bus; napa-plano nila iyong kanilang biyahe,” she explained.
(That’s why we were able to maximize it –what we did was to post the stops in each route on Facebook, and what time it will pass by so [passengers] do not need to wait so early. They go only when the bus will arrive; they are able to plan their trips.)
The OVP started its free shuttle service for health workers on March 18 after public transportation was suspended due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. Passengers only have to show a valid ID from a hospital to avail of the free ride.
The initiative was implemented with the help of private donors. Operations are run by OVP staff and volunteers, whom Robredo praised.
“Mayroong birthday nila nagvo-volunteer, mayroong wedding anniversary, iyong ginawa noong mag-asawa nag-volunteer… mayroong pari na nagvo-volunteer. Mayroong artista na nag-volunteer. Ano talaga, parang from all walks of life,” she said in the radio show.
“Kaya ito naman iyong maganda sa exercise kasi mararamdaman mo na lahat na tao, nagpi-pitch in talaga,” she added.
(There are some who volunteer on their birthday; one couple volunteered on their wedding anniversary, a priest also volunteers. An actor volunteered. [They’re] from all walks of life. This is what’s good with the exercise because you feel that all people are pitching in.)