DOTr: With suspended public transport, free ride for health workers stays

Graphics by: Marie Faro

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday reminded health frontliners that the department’s free bus ride remains in effect to transport them to their respective hospitals during this time of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

The free bus service operates in two shifts every day, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., in 20 routes in the Greater Manila Area, the DOTr said in a Facebook post.

According to DOTr, the initiative was made possible through coordination of the DOTr to different government agencies.

Several bus firms and transportation companies have also partnered with the DOTr for the free service as regular public transport is suspended under the MECQ.

The routes of the department’s free bus service can be viewed here:

https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/posts/1773574056115056?__xts__[0]=68.ARDSp5EPzU_eudKeallovb3TPTzx23i_V732OW7Cz9u_yh-kT_0imUwFO_CR6xivjjyqZSbrRhcpbJmXNTzCRrq5NGbK94y1Be-7loN4-_RSU6G3w_sv3rl5XkESKhnVbhu9wXcvRdTdOFj6PpvGIzSVxCwvPznrCmMy169LR9nkcGI5tJv3GgWs5Qj2j0vPJYshnYo8219Edfa9GIPCfWnN3CwVO9JMz-rzrSBG4osxx_KWtiEQmapTy39iAAxd-APEeRCWADI8Ggn0VsspHXri0YfM9_1ckQd7BfPza3ngV0DnUwtYmhGGjd91gx8zzxeAAMY3lfoYyZSYRFz03rARuQ&_rdc=1&_rdr

Among the areas placed again under MECQ from August 4 to 18 are Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna and Bulacan, after President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the appeal of medical professionals to reimpose stricter lockdown measures to give them a breather as  COVID-19 cases continue to rise under the general community quarantine.

JPV