DOTr wants PUVs passenger capacity restored to 100% in Metro Manila

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT Jeepney commuters in Makati City keep a measured distance between them after the government reduced the standard 1-meter rule for distancing on public vehicles. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants the existing 50-percent passenger capacity of public transportation vehicles (PUVs) in Metro Manila to be restored to 100 percent, an official told senators Monday.

During the agency’s budget hearing in the Senate, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor said they are set to defend their proposal to increase the PUVs’ seating capacity before the government’s pandemic task force this week.

“Last Friday po nag-submit po kami sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) ng formal position paper na i-increase po ang sitting capacity natin from 50 percent, para po sa amin kung masusunod po ang kagawaran pwede po itong maging 100 percent, based on the medical literature that is available,” Pastor said.

(Last Friday, we submitted to the IATF a formal position paper to increase the 50-percent sitting capacity, for us, if it is up to us, we want it increased to 100 percent based on the medical literature that is available.)

“We are ready to defend its position sa IATF po this coming Thursday… because this is not only a matter of public transportation but also a matter of public health po,” he added.

(We are to defend its (DOTr) position before the IATF this coming Thursday…because this is not only a matter of public transportation but also a matter of public health.)

In an earlier briefing, Pastor said the DOTr’s proposal to the IATF will be based on both technical and medical studies, and will consider existing safety protocols in respective local government units.

The government lowered Metro Manila’s alert level status from 4 to 3 on Oct. 16 until the end of the month.

On a national scale, the Philippines is now considered as low risk for COVID-19, after a negative two-week growth rate at -48 percent and a moderate-risk average daily attack rate (ADAR) at 5.89 cases per every 100,000 individuals, the Department of Health said.

EDV