Public transport still suspended, gatherings limited to 5 people in modified ECQ areas — Palace

Public transport will remain suspended in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under modified ECQ from May 16 to 31 to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to an inter-agency resolution approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

There will be no domestic flights except for limited international flights, and inbound travel will be limited to overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos.

Inter-island travel will be prohibited and biking and non-motorized transport are encouraged.

“Sa modified ECQ, wala pa rin pong public transportation pero puwede po na mag-deploy ng mga shuttle buses iyong mga industriya na ina-allow na magtrabaho at saka subject din po sa exceptions na ibibigay ng DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] tungkol dito,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Ang mga public shuttle po eh dapat ibigay ng mga kumpanya. Kung pagmamay-ari po ng kumpanya, wala nang kinakailangan na permit sa LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board], pero kung sila po ay uupa ng shuttle, kinakailangang kumuha ng permit sa LTFRB.”

Schools will still be closed and gatherings will be restricted to five people. A gathering of 10 people will be allowed in areas under the less strict general community quarantine. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News