Tricycles resume ops on Monday in Pasig City under MECQ

Starting Monday, May 18, tricycles resumed plying the roads in Pasig City.

Mayor Vico Sotto announced on Facebook on Saturday that the Department of the Interior and Local Government approved the guidelines submitted by the city government regarding tricycle operations.

The city was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) on Saturday, along with the rest of Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga including Angeles City, and Zambales.

Under MECQ guidelines, public mass transportation is still not allowed in the above mentioned areas.

In Pasig City, each tricycle may only have one passenger except in cases of medical emergency, according to a report by Corinne Catibayan on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday. This is to ensure social distancing.

Drivers also have to install a plastic barrier separating them from the passenger area.

The local government also said it will provide disinfectants to tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODA) so drivers can disinfect their tricycles twice a day.

All drivers also need to wear face masks.

Tricycles will be allowed to operate in Pasig City from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Because only one passenger is allowed per tricycle, the tricycle fare went up by almost double the usual fare: P20 for the first kilometer and P5 per succeeding kilometer.

Residents nevertheless welcomed the availability of tricycles since transportation remains difficult under MECQ.

"Magiging malaking tulong ang mga tricycle para masolusyonan ang kakulangan sa mobilidad ng mga empleyadong Pasigueño sa paraan na may social distancing pa rin," Sotto said. —KG, GMA News