Expect longer commutes after ECQ as gov’t eyes 30% passenger capacity for bus and trains

LRT 2 RESUME PARTIAL OPERATIONS / OCTOBER 8, 2019 The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 resumes partial operations on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 after safety checks and test runs are completed. The LRT2 operations were halted when a fire damaged two rectifier substations in Katipunan and Anonas stations. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

On Apr. 21, Duterte and IATF Cabinet officials discussed possible post-quarantine scenarios and guidelines to enact, which includes the resumption of bus and train operations with limited capacity.

If the enhanced community quarantine ends on Apr. 30, the government will possibly allow the resumption of bus and train operations with the number of passengers limited to only 30 percent of its original capacity in order to minimize the risk of infection.

As of today, Apr. 22, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has discussed this possibility in order to maintain social distancing measures. They may also be imposing a “no mask, no ride” rule, thermal monitoring at bus stations and train terminals and reminders to wash hands frequently.

There are no clarifications yet on how jeepneys, tricycles, taxis and private vehicles will operate after the quarantine. The IATF along with President Duterte have yet to release any plans on post-quarantine operations which is set to begin in eight days on May 1. Senator Bong Go, in an interview with DZMM radio, announced that Duterte will release plans tomorrow, Apr. 23.

World Health Organization Western Pacific regional director Dr. Takeshi Kasai said that lockdowns have “proven to be effective in slowing down and reducing the transmission,” but acknowledges that the quarantine has affected the livelihoods of many people and states that the lifting of the lockdown must happen gradually and in a phased manner.

The lockdown, which began last Mar. 15, was originally scheduled to end on Apr. 30. Currently, the country has 6,559 people tested positive for coronavirus with 437 deaths and 600 recoveries.

Header photo courtesy of Grig C. Montegrande from Inquirer.net

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