Over 2 million commuters in NCR expected to use public transpo after ECQ —LTFRB

More than two million commuters are expected to take various public transportation modes in Metro Manila once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Martin Delgra III said Monday.

"We're looking at something like a little over 11 million [population needing mobility] before. Now we bring it down to 30%, that would be 3.4 million—the 70% of that would be the one taken cared of by the public transport," Delgra said as he made projections during a hearing conducted by the Senate committee on public services.

"From the demand before to the demand now, 30% lang po ang [babalik sa kalsada]," he added.

Delgra acknowledged the need to ensure the efficiency of the transport sector once the suspension on mass transportation gets lifted.

He said rationalized routes will be identified and special permits for public utility vehicle operators will be issued.

The hierarchy of public transport vehicle types that will be allowed to resume operations would be based on how efficient and safe these could ferry passengers, he added, citing buses and modern jeepneys as examples.

Further, he said there will be no room for colorums once the ECQ gets lifted.

Meanwhile, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said LRT1, LRT2, MRT3, and the PNR will operate only on a 14% capacity once Metro Manila enters the general community quarantine.

The entire Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine since March 17—shutting down several establishments and suspending mass transportation to limit population movement and arrest the spread of the contagion.

The same measure has been extended until May 15 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and other high-risk areas in the country.

Outside these areas where general community quarantine is in effect since May 1, public utility vehicles had been allowed to operate at 50% capacity.—AOL, GMA News