BAGUIO CITY – The city government is inclined to open out-bound public transportation from the city to other parts of the Cordillera, except Ifugao, anytime once the prevailing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will be downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ).
However, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, who attended the local legislative body’s regular session on Monday, said the opening of the out-bound public transportation to the different parts of the Cordillera, except Ifugao, will have to strictly comply with the guidelines on the opening of public transportation issued by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
He claimed that based on the assessments done by the city government, together with health experts, most of the provinces in the Cordillera are considered clean as some of the said areas, particularly Apayao, Mountain Province and Kalinga, recorded zero COVID cases since the implementation of the ECQ, thus, it is important to consider the gradual opening of out-bound public transportation to these parts of the region.
The city chief executive pointed out appropriate coordination will be done with the concerned provincial officials and the operators of the public transportation servicing the routes from the city to the provinces on how to manage their operations anytime after the GCQ.
According to him, no decision was reached on the possible resumption of public transportation to the different parts of Northern and Central Luzon and the National Capital Region (NCR) as the city government is still ascertaining the condition of the different places outside the Cordillera whether or not it will be feasible to start gradually opening public transportation to these destinations.
He pointed out that prior to any resumption of outbound public transportation from the city, the vehicles to be used will be subjected to the required inspection by the LTFRB for their compliance to the new normal situation.
Part of the guidelines prescribed by the LTFRB for the operation of mass public transportation is for the 50 percent occupancy of the vehicles, the provision of sanitizers and alcohol, the mandatory wearing of face masks, the placing of the plastic division between the driver and the passengers, among others.
Mass public transportation is one of the sectors expected to resume operation during the GCQ subject to strict adherence to the policy on physical distancing among the passengers.
The city mayor also explained that even mass public transportation in the city will gradually start their operations but on a very limited basis pursuant to the established transition plan of the city government to prevent a possible second wave of the virus infection.
From the existing number of public utility vehicles that have been issued franchises, he revealed that less than 15 percent of the same might be allowed to operate during the first two weeks of the GCQ.
By Dexter A. See
