A bus conductor (R) takes the temperature of passengers about to board a bus in Manila on June 23, 2020. (File photo by AC Dimatatac / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — A nationwide transport group on Tuesday rejected the proposal of an independent pandemic monitor to limit the use of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to fully vaccinated individuals, saying it was impractical and would only bring more chaos to the already fragmented public transport system.
OCTA Research earlier made the recommendation after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the proposal of the Department of Transportation to gradually increase public transport capacity starting Nov. 4.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David said it was based on the high vaccination rate of the adult population in Metro Manila, with 96 percent having received at least one dose so far.
However, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) said the proposed policy would only discriminate between vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers, and drivers would not have the capacity to check the compliance of all passengers.
“It could be possible if passengers are onboarded in terminals, but if they are picked up on the road, it would be difficult to check their vaccination status,” said Piston national president Modesto Floranda.
He added that the policy would create “extreme competition between already struggling passengers… when public transport should be a form of public service.”
Supporter
Instead of implementing restrictive policies, Floranda said the government has the responsibility to speed up its vaccination drive and reach its target nationwide, particularly the ordinary Filipinos.
But Alex Yague, executive director of the Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus ng Pilipinas, said his group agreed with the initiative to allow provincial buses to carry more fully vaccinated passengers using buses with fully inoculated staff.
“Our group is cooperating with Go Negosyo to have all bus employees, drivers, conductors and support staff be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to drive our members’ buses,” Yague said.
He added that with the currently high diesel prices, the prevailing 50-percent capacity in public transport resulted in operating losses.
Go Negosyo is the advocacy of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, a nonstock, nonprofit organization led by Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.
“We agree with the Go Negosyo initiative to allow provincial buses to carry up to 70-80 percent capacity for fully vaccinated passengers using buses with fully vaccinated crew. We are requesting the IATF and LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) to review the guidelines and open more provincial routes to the public,” Yague said.