IATF studying resumption of provincial bus operations in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is discussing the appeal of transport groups to allow the resumption of provincial bus operations in Metro Manila, an official from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.

“‘Yan po ay pinag-uusapan na ngayon sa IATF. Wala pa pong pinal na desisyon dahil nga po lumalabas nga po sa pag-aaral sa ibang bansa na (public) transportation is one of the fastest ways to spread COVID-19,” Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a televised press briefing.

“Antabayanan lang po natin kung magkakadesisyon na ang IATF. Sa ngayon po wala pa,” he added.

Public transportation is allowed in Metro Manila although on a limited capacity only. However, provincial buses remain prohibited from entering the capital region which is under general community quarantine until the end of the month.

There are currently 224,264 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, including 158,012 recoveries and 3,597 deaths. More than half or 125,851 of the total cases came from the National Capital Region.

JE