Pre-pandemic routes of public transport to reopen — MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of Transportation are gearing toward opening the usual routes of public transportation vehicles in major roads during the time prior to the pandemic in the metropolis. INQUIRER.net photo / Jonathan Vicente

MANILA, Philippines — The pre-pandemic routes of public transportation will return as the National Capital Region and 38 other areas downgrade to Alert Level 1, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official said Tuesday.

MMDA General Manager and officer in charge Romando Artes said that Transportation Undersecretary Steven Pastor and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra gave him an assurance on the reopening of routes. 

READ: Metro Manila, 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 starting Mar. 1

“I received the assurance yesterday kay Usec. Pastor at kay Chairman Delgra na lahat po ng pampublikong transportasyon ‘yung mga ruta ay kanila pong ibabalik, except for some I think mga ruta ng jeepneys na hindi na po nila ibabalik,” Artes said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(I received the assurance yesterday from Usec. Pastor and Chairman Delgra that they will reopen all public transportation routes except for some I think jeepney routes.)

“Pero as a general rule, ‘yung mga pre-pandemic routes po ay halos lahat ibabalik na po nila,” he added.

(But, as a general rule, almost all pre-pandemic routes will return.)

MMDA traffic czar Bong Nebrija on Monday said that there are around 345,000 vehicles that traverse Edsa per day, lower than the pre-pandemic volume of 405,000.

The government in March 2020 closed public transport systems and roads in a bid to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

JPV