UPDATE as of Jun. 4, 8 p.m.: Malacañang clarified that sidecars are still prohibited from traversing national highways. “Regarding the issue on tricycles/those similarly situated, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año clarifies that although apprehension from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is temporarily suspended, such are still prohibited from traversing the national highways,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Following difficult commute many workers experience on the first day of general community quarantine (GCQ) last Monday, the Palace has made new pronouncements to make more modes of transport available this week. This includes deploying more buses to operate in new routes.
[READ: Commuters were stranded at roads on first day of GCQ, but MMDA blames them for chaos]Three city bus routes will also be operational starting tomorrow, Friday, June 5, Roque added.
“Nagbigay ng direktiba ang Presidente na dagdagan pa ang ruta ng mga bus na bumabyahe sa Metro Manila simula po bukas, araw ng Biyernes.”
These new routes are:
- Route 1: Monumento – Balagtas, Bulacan
- Route 17: EDSA – Montalban, Rizal
- Route 18: NAIA Loop
The Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (DOTr-LTFRB), who announced the new lines today, however, has yet to clarify how many units will service these routes.
Additionally, starting Monday, June 8, there will be buses plying these routes:
- Route 3: Monumento – VGC
- Route 11: Gilmore – Taytay
- Route 21: Monumento – San Jose Del Monte
“This is part of our gradual and calibrated approach in the resumption of public transport operations in Metro Manila,” DOTr said.
On Monday, hundreds of people back to work spent hours waiting for rides on the road in the absence of mass transport and employer-provided shuttle services. Many also lined up at train stations for hours because of MRT, LRT and PNR’s limited operations.
Header photo courtesy of Niño Jesus Orbeta/Inquirer
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