Work resumes in Visayas but public vehicles scarce

Workers in the Visayas on Monday shared the same ordeal of their counterparts in Metro Manila as public transport remained scarce as provinces started to shift to general community quarantine this week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Commuters endured long lines and extended waiting time in bus stops. Point-to-point buses started to operate but taxis, vans-for-hire, and jeepneys did not ply their routes.

Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas said operators of public transportation were still processing their special permits so they could resume operations.Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella allowed buses, traditional and modern jeepneys, taxis, vans-for-hire, and transport network vehicle services to resume operations but only with half of their capacity.

In Iloilo City, heavy traffic was experienced on the first day of the transition of Western Visayas to modified general community quarantine. Public utility vehicles, however, were lacking, causing long lines of passengers in terminals and jeepney stops.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said they expected public transportation to normalize from three days to a week.

In Negros Occidental, both Gov. Jose Lacson and Mayor Evelio Leonardia of the capital city of Bacolod issued separate executive orders that allowed only returning overseas Filipino workers and residents stranded on Panay Island into the province and city.

—Reports from Nestle Semilla, Nestor Burgos Jr., Carla Gomez and Joey Gabieta