Tugade: Reduced distance among PUV passengers not ‘knee-jerk response

MANILA, Philippines — The move to ease social distancing rules in public transportation is “not a product of a knee-jerk reaction” but a “product of research and simulation.”

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade issued this assurance on Tuesday as lawmakers grilled transport officials on the reduced distance between passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) during House deliberations on the agency’s proposed 2021 budget.

“The decision to reduce social distancing is not a product of knee jerk reaction but also a product of research and a product of simulation which we have done,” he said.

Starting Monday, September 14, the one-meter distance between passengers will be reduced to 0.75 meter.

By September 28, this distance will be further adjusted to 0.5 meter and then to 0.3 meter on October 12 in order to allow optimization of ridership.

READ: DOTr eases distancing rule in public transport

Tugade further said that commuters’ health and safety are “not prejudiced” in the new physical distancing policy so long as they follow other health protocols such as wearing face masks and face shields, frequent handwashing, and avoiding unnecessary talking, eating, and use of cellphones while aboard PUVs.

While the move is not a concrete solution to the current shortage of public transportation being experienced by commuters, Tugade said the DOTr had to come up with ways to open up the economy.

The relaxing of distancing rules likewise does not mean that passengers will be crammed inside vehicles, he added.

He explained that there would only be an addition of two to four passengers in jeepneys and buses and 40 to 60 passengers in trains.

“Hindi ho ibig sabihin n’yan, magsisiksikan na ‘yung mga tao,” the Transport chief said.

Tugade also clarified that the measure to reduce distance among passengers inside PUVs was not solely the decision of DOTr as it was likewise approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government’s lead panel in the battle against COVID-19.

KGA