LTFRB amended guidelines on coronavirus call for decontamination of PUVs

MANILA, Philippines — Operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) are required to disinfect their respective vehicles as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Tuesday.

In a statement, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said they added additional guidelines to its existing Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-005 which implements health protocols for PUVs.

Under the amended memorandum, PUV operators should properly sanitize their fleet before deploying vehicles to contain COVID-19.

PUV operators should also put up a copy of COVID-19 hotline numbers at their respective vehicles.

“All PUV operators to place a printed copy of the necessary Covid-19 hotline numbers of attached agencies and Local Government Units (LGU), especially the Department of Health’s (DOH) thru (02) 8-651-7800 loc. 1149-1150,” Delgra said.

The LTFRB also ordered PUV operators to educate PUV drivers and conductors about symptoms of the COVID-19.

PUV operators should also direct PUV conductors and drivers to report possible infected passengers to the Department of Transportation, LTFRB, Department of Health, local government unit and police station.

In addition, Delgra said Driver’s Academy Program should be temporarily stopped in March. Delgra said the LTFRB will still evaluate the lifting of the suspension by the end of the month.

The program, introduced under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2017-013, aims to train PUV drivers and educate them on road safety, traffic violations and other policies.

No overcrowding

Delgra said PUVs, especially buses, must strictly limit their passengers in keeping with the social distancing measure, which is one of the precautionary strategies against the spread of COVID-19.

“We know that under our specific rules standing is allowed to a certain extent, but hindi pwedeng overcrowding (overcrowding is not allowed.),” Delgra said in a press briefing at the LTFRB headquarters.

Asked about overcrowding in jeepneys, where passengers are close to each other, Delgra advised proper personal hygiene among passengers if distancing is not applicable to the mode of transportation.

Previously, the LTFRB’s memorandum circular directed conductors and drivers to wear face masks and use disinfectants such as hand sanitizers and alcohol.

Currently, the country’s health department recorded 33 patients who tested positive for the fatal disease.

The coronavirus disease was caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 which was first recorded in China’s Wuhan City of Hubei province in late 2019.

The coronavirus is a family of viruses whose surfaces have crown-like appearance.