Jeepneys banned, buses allowed to operate at 50% capacity in GCQ areas — IATF

MANILA, Philippines — Traditional jeepneys are not allowed to operate while buses should operate under 50 percent capacity in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas, as per the recommendation of the government’s task force, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

“Bubuksan na natin yung mass transportation or public transportation, except for yung sasakyan tulad ng traditional jeepney dahil mahirap ipatupad ang physical distancing dito at kailangan mag-repurpose sila o magreconfigure ng upuan,” Año, vice chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)  for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, told CNN Philippines when asked about its recommendations for transportation.

(We will open mass transportation or public transportation except for traditional jeepney because it is difficult to follow physical distancing here and they need to repurpose or reconfigure their seats.)

Año noted that old jeepneys might become delivery vehicles during the “new normal.”

Meanwhile, he said buses are allowed, provided that they will impose minimum health standards and record passengers’ information for contact tracing.

“Under GCQ, ang buses papayagan na rin natin yan at 50 percent capacity, at mayroon dapat na mga provisions sa minimum health standards. Yung mga upuan diyan hindi dapat uupuan lahat. Dapat may alternate,” he said.

(Under GCQ, buses are allowed to ply at 50 percent capacity and must consider the minimum health standards. Bus seats must be used alternately.)

“‘Yung sa ating buses, terminal i-re-re-quire na natin paglog-in ng mga pangalan diyan for possible contact tracing kung magkakaroon ng possible transmission,” he added.

(For buses, terminal, we require passengers to log-in for possible contact tracing in case of possible transmission of coronavirus disease.)

The IATF likewise proposed the promotion of using bicycles, by ordering local government units (LGUs) to put up bike lanes. Motorcycles and taxis are also allowed but back-riding is still prohibited during GCQ.

“Of course, yung mga taxis allowed yan, motorcycles allowed yan pero bawal pa rin ang angkas,” he said.

(Of course, taxis are allowed, motorcycles are allowed but back riding is still banned.)

Año earlier disclosed that the IATF recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to place Metro Manila under GCQ on June 1. Duterte is expected to announce new directives for community quarantine in the country this Thursday.

Metro Manila is currently under modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31 which still suspended public and mass transportation.

EDV