Public transport banned in Cavite under MECQ

MANILA, Philippines — Despite his objections to what he called a “very unwise” move, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he will implement the ban on public transportation in the province.

The ban on public transport is in line with the directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), such as Cavite and Metro Manila, in order to arrest the coronavirus contagion.

“Ikinalulungkot ko po sabihin na ang IATF ay mabigat na binalaan ang ating provincial commander ng PNP (Philippine National Police) na mahigpit na patuparin ang ‘no public transportation policy,’” Remulla said in a Facebook post.

(I am saddened to announce that the IATF has warned the provincial commander of the PNP to strictly implement the “no transportation policy.”)

“This is a very unwise decision but I will respect it,” he said.

The governor lamented that the manufacturing industry in the province will be “severely affected” by the order.

“Sa aking mga kababayan, ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin (To my constituents, I am sorry). I tried my best to serve your interest, as well as the province and the country,” said Remulla.

“Unfortunately, the people in charge see things differently,” the official added.

The quarantine status in Cavite, along with Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna, was reverted to MECQ from August 4 to 18, following the appeal of the medical community to impose stricter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and nearby areas amid the rising cases of the coronavirus disease under relaxed community quarantine.

EDV