Jeepneys still not allowed to operate in GCQ areas–DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Jeepneys are still not allowed to operate in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

Partial operation of public transportation in GCQ areas is allowed provided that a “one-meter distance between passengers” is observed.

“Mabubuksan na po ang lahat ng riles, kalye, pantalan, at airports sa mga areas ng GCQ po, GCQ lang. Provided that in all public transports, a strict one-meter distance between passengers shall be observed and appropriate engineering controls in place,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press conference.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, however, said jeepneys are not included among public vehicles allowed to partially operate.

“‘Yung jeepney, hindi pa yan pinapayagan (Jeepneys are still not allowed to operate),” Año said in the same briefing.

“Makikita ninyo yung configuration ng jeepney, magkakakaharap yung mga tao dyan at pagka lumabas yung isang pasahero dyan, mabubugahan niya lahat ng dadaanan niya,” he explained.

(If you look at jeepneys’ configuration, passengers are facing each other. And if one passenger alights, there’s a possibility he/she might cough on all other passengers.)

Passenger buses, meanwhile, will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, Año said.

“Normally, 50 percent lang ang ma-aaccommodate sa capacity nya. Kung 50 ang kanyang capacity, 25 lang ang makakasakay doon. At gagawan niya na alternate ang pagupo ng mga pasahero at mandatory wearing of face masks,” he said.

(Normally, only 50 percent of its capacity is accommodated. If its capacity is 50 passengers, only 25 are allowed to board. Passengers must also seat alternately and wear face masks.)

Año added that other preventive measures such as thermal scanning prior to boarding the vehicle and the use of hand sanitizers or alcohols must also be observed.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will release guidelines for the partial operation of other public utility vehicles (PUVs), he added.

Areas that are “low-risk” for the coronavirus transmission are placed under GCQ starting May 1. Under GCQ, businesses are allowed to partially operate except those involved in leisure and entertainment.

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/MUF