Revival of provincial bus operations by June 22 still up for IATF discussion

MANILA, Philippines — Allowing provincial buses to resume operations by June 22 or the second phase of public transport revival will still be discussed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, Malacañang said Thursday.

During an online briefing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained that the plan to allow provincial buses by June 22 was under the assumption that Metro Manila would be under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) or the most relaxed form of lockdown measure against COVID-19.

“Pagdating naman po sa usaping provincial buses, pag-uusapan po ng IATF kung papayagan na po ang mga provincial buses na kasama po sa orihinal na plano ng DOTr,” Roque said.

(When it comes to provincial buses, the IATF will discuss whether it will allow them to operate which is included in the original plan of the DOTr.)

“Kung maalala ninyo po, prinisenta rin namin dito iyong second phase ng plano ng DOTr at kasama po diyan ang operasyon ng provincial buses, pero ang assumption po noon ay magiging MGCQ na po ang Metro Manila,” he added.

(If you remember, it was presented here that the DOTr’s second phase plan was to allow the operation of provincial buses. But this was under the assumption that Metro Manila would be under MGCQ.)

Metro Manila and several other provinces will remain under GCQ until June 30.

Under the DOTr’s second phase of public transport revival, public utility buses (PUBs), modern public utility vehicles (PUVs), and UV Express will be permitted to operate with limited passenger capacity starting June 22.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said provincial buses may only be allowed to operate in MGCQ areas.

“From MGCQ to MGCQ areas, provincial buses may be allowed to operate as long as they follow the minimum health standards and protocols. For GCQ areas, hindi pa (not yet),” Año said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

In this file photo, provincial buses pass through the toll plaza of the North Luzon Expressway. Allowing provincial buses to reuse operations by June 22 is still up for discussion by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, according to Malacañang on Thursday, June 18, 2020. INQUIRER FILE/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

LGUs’ permission

Senior consultant of the DOTr Alberto Suansing said permission must be asked from local government units (LGUs) where provincial buses’ routes pass.

“As far as the provincial buses operations are concerned, that has to be coordinated with IATF kasi merong mga challenges pa dyan. For example, ‘yung mga bus, dadaan ‘yan sa mga local LGUs, so ‘yung pagpayag na local LGUs na dumaan sa lugar nila, kinakailangan natin mangyari,” Suansing said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(As far as the provincial buses operations are concerned, that has to be coordinated with IATF because there are still challenges there. For example, those buses will pass through local LGUs, so those LGUs must allow the passage of buses in their areas, that must be done.)

“Hangga’t hindi nangyayari ‘yun, that’s also in coordination with DILG, the provincial bus operations will continue to be suspended,” he added.

(Until that is accomplished, that is also in coordination with DILG, the provincial bus operations will continue to be suspended.)

KGA