Valenzuela gov’t slaps P462k fine vs transport firm for overcrowded bus
Screenshots of a Twitter post of Mayor Rex Gatchalian, showing a passenger bus loaded with passengers.
MANILA, Philippines — A bus company was fined P462,000 after one of its public utility buses allegedly traversed Valenzuela City with full of passengers, which violated physical distancing, City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said Monday.
Gatchalian said he had an agreement with the owners of Metrolink to impose sanctions on drivers and conductors.
“They will sanction their drivers and conductors. They will remove extra seats in order to fully comply with social distancing at all times….They got a warning from me… They will pay 462,000 worth of fines,” the mayor said in a tweet.
Metrolink owner and management meeting…
1. They will sanction their drivers and conductors
2. They will remove extra seats in order to fully comply with social distancing at all times….3. They got a warning from me…
4. They will pay 462,000 worth of fines pic.twitter.com/4cfkBavmFM
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) July 27, 2020
Previously, Gatchalian ordered the drivers of Metrolink to appear at Valenzuela City Hall to respond to allegations that one of its buses accepted full passengers while plying Dalandanan, Valenzuela last Saturday, July 25.
“Driver of this bus does not appear in my office Monday by 12noon…i will personally make sure that all your buses: (A.) Are barred from entering the city (B.) If you do, we will stop you and impound your buses,” he said in another tweet on Sunday, July 26.
Social Media has a funny way of making the world small…Valenzuelanos please share this till it gets to metrolink bus people.
I want to meet the owner, driver and conductor of the bus in my office Mon
I think yung naka yellow ang conductor if you know him tell him im pic.twitter.com/Xw7WnRjusY
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) July 25, 2020
Under Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board guidelines, bus operators must implement health protocols to suppress the spread of COVID-19. This includes minimum passenger capacity, regular disinfection of buses and placing transparent barriers inside the vehicle.
