No tricycles in return of public transport in Puerto Princesa

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Public transportation would return to this city and the province of Palawan at the start of general community quarantine (GCQ) on May 1, according to officials.

Assistant Transportation Secretary Alberto Suansing on Friday (April 24) said local government units would be empowered to regulate “reduced capacity” of mass transport as restrictions are downgraded from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to GCQ.

Suansing, however, said tricycles would still be banned as the three-wheeled vehicles do not qualify as a mode of mass transport where social distancing could be enforced.

He said most modes of transport in Puerto Princesa are buses, jeepneys or multi-cabs, or small vans. “Tricycles are not included,” Suansing said.

“The recommendation is reduced capacity,” he said.

He cited the multi-cab which can carry 10 passengers but which would have to reduce that to up to five passengers only “for the implementation of social distancing.”

Suansing also said local governments are not being given power to allow higher fare to compensate for reduced carrying capacity since this was set by guidelines from the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board.

Instead, local governments may come up with other programs to compensate for the loss of income by transport operators resulting from reduced capacity.

The Department of Transportation has yet to issue guidelines for mass transport in areas on GCQ.

Local governments in Puerto Princesa and Palawan have yet to disclose plans as they were still deliberating on GCG guidelines.

Edited by TSB