Transport group pleased over plan to restore passenger capacity to 100%

SHIELDED TRAVEL. Baguio jeepneys have been outfitted with plastic compartments that shield passengers from each other, to comply with quarantine rules on social distancing. FILE PHOTO / EV ESPIRITU

MANILA, Philippines — A transport group on Tuesday said that it is pleased with the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) proposal to increase passenger capacity in public transport to 100 percent amid rising oil prices.

The DOTr recommended reverting the passenger capacity in public transport to the pre-pandemic level to help drivers and operators amid soaring fuel prices.

Currently, passenger capacity is at 50 percent.

“Kami po ay natutuwa do’n sa desisyon ni Secretary [Arthur] Tugade na in-announce kaninang umaga ni Asec. (Assistant Secretary) [Steve] Pastor ng DOTr,” Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas National President Engr. Orlando Marquez said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(We are happy with the decision of Secretary Tugade which was announced by Asec. Pastor of the DOTr.)

Marquez said that they are ready to coordinate with the concerned agencies for its implementation, once approved, as there are safety measures to be placed to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

“Kaya lang po, kami ay nakahanda pa rin na makipagtulungan doon sa tinatawag na—dapat mayroon pa rin po tayong [temperature] scanner doon sa mga terminal, doon sa mga sakayan kasi po nagre-rekomenda po kami sa mga lugar dahil mayroon pa rin pong pandemic ‘di ba ho? Andyan pa rin ‘yung kaaway na virus na hindi nakikita,” he said.

(We are ready to work with—we should still have a scanner in terminals because the virus’ threat is still present.)

Moreover, Marquez said that they will not push through with their petition for a fare hike after the government said that it will provide P1 billion in cash grants to around 178,000 registered public utility drivers.

JPV