With all due respect to Home Deputy Minority Chief and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, the Division of Transportation (DOTr) considers this transition from Modified Enhanced Group (MECQ) to Common Group (GCQ), as a public well being situation, greater than a public transportation situation.
The risk continues to be right here. And on this time of pandemic, well being and security should be of upper significance than consolation and comfort.
As talked about by Secretary Arthur Tugade, whereas the mandate of the DOTr is to offer transportation, mobility and comfort, we’re likewise vested with the accountability to the individuals to assist abate the unfold of COVID-19.
We don’t want public transportation to develop into transmission vectors of the illness. Therefore, the resumption of transportation entails a calculated, gradual, and partial strategy whether it is to regain its moniker because the lifeblood of the economic system, not as an instrument of loss of life.
Within the curiosity of public well being, the resumption of public transport should comply with a number of protocols, together with a hierarchy of deployment that prioritizes greater capability automobiles to permit bodily distancing, cashless cost techniques to stop bodily contact, and an obtainable platform for extra environment friendly contact tracing.
As authorised by the IATF-MEID, public transportation modes allowed from June 1 to 21 are trains, bus augmentation, taxis and TNVS, shuttle companies, point-to-point (P2P) buses, and different non-motorized transport corresponding to bicycles. By June 22, public utility buses, trendy public utility automobiles and UV Specific will likewise be allowed to function. In areas with restricted trendy PUVs, conventional jeepneys can be allowed.
The DOTr likewise helps and understands the plight of jeepney drivers. It is because of this that the Land Transportation and Regulatory Franchising Board (LTRFB) has been directed to work carefully with the Division of Social Welfare and Growth (DSWD), and the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) to expedite the discharge of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for PUV drivers.
The DOTr additionally proposed a number of initiatives for the transport sector, which have been included within the authorities’s stimulus package deal proposal to Congress and the Division of Funds and Administration (DBM). A serious function of that is the 30% gasoline subsidy to assist operators and drivers get well their projected revenue and take-home earnings once they resume operations. Additionally a part of the stimulus package deal submitted to Congress are the availability of loans with deferred rates of interest, and no extra curiosity for deferred funds. The DOTr has additionally directed the extension of software for renewal of PUV franchises, licenses, and PUV registration sixty (60) days from the lifting of the ECQ/MECQ with out penalty to permit drivers and operators to get the required necessities.
Additional, enable us observe that the DOTr shall stay relentless and decided to pursue a public transport transformation that’s secure, trendy, restructured, well-managed, environmentally-sustainable, and one which ensures that each one pursuits of stakeholders, most particularly the commuters, are vigorously being upheld.
We acknowledge the hassle of Rep. Zarate in taking over the cudgels for the jeepney group, most operators of whom are in fixed dialogue and are working cooperatively with the Division to deal with points and to give you “win-win” options.
Rep. Zarate is most welcome to affix our endeavors with the completely different transport teams throughout the nation, with the tip view of enlightening him that what we do on the DOTr is “Tunay na Serbisyo.”
Certainly, the Filipino individuals deserves no much less.
