The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has opened all 31 bus routes in Metro Manila to increase the flow of public transportation during quarantine. Over the course of the month of June, bus routes have gradually been reopened in order to support workers traveling to and from their workplaces.
Civilians can now take point-to-point buses, taxis, transport network service vehicles and public utility buses with designated routes all around Metro Manila, beginning with Route 1 in Monumento to Route 31 that ends in Cavite City. The last addition was Route 10 (Cubao–Doroteo Jose) which reopened today, June 24.
“Araw-araw ang isinasagawang adjustment ng ating pamahalaan upang matulungan ang ating mga commuter, ngunit sa pamamaraang hindi malalagay sa alanganin ang kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan,” wrote LTFRB on their social media.
According to LTFRB, passengers are required to follow the necessary health protocols such as wearing face masks and using gloves. Public transport operators are also expected to disinfect their vehicles after every trip or every two hours, place non-permeable and transparent divisions (for jeepneys), and adhere to minimum capacity requirements.
Under the general community quarantine, public transport vehicles that are allowed to operate are required to have cashless payments and alcohol, sanitizers and other applicable disinfecting facilities in their units. Buses and shuttles must observe a one-seat apart rule for passengers to follow.
Header photo courtesy of Grig Montegrande from Philippine Daily Inquirer
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