COVID-19 CRISIS

Public transport shouldn't be opened at the expense of health security —MMDA exec

An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said health security should not be compromised just to open public transport services for workers returning to their jobs.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia stressed that public transport is still not allowed in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) like Metro Manila.

As some businesses in modified ECQ areas are allowed to have their workers return to their duty amid the threat of the virus and without public transport, Garcia said big companies are advised to provide shuttle services for their employees.

“Bawal ang public transport sa MECQ kaya ineengganyo ang malalaking kumpanya na gumawa ng shuttle service para sa kanilang mga empleyado or kaya i-in-house nila,” he said.

Asked about the concern of small and medium enterprises that are not capable of providing such services, Garcia quoted presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as saying that they are not allowed to open without these resources.

“Hindi naman natin kailangan isapalaran na bubuksan natin 'yung ating public transport, eh 'yung health issues naman 'yung maaapektuhan,” Garcia said.

He argued that there is actually no right decision for the matter but there should be a balance between kickstarting the economy and protecting the health of the citizens.

“So hindi po natin lahat puwedeng iangal. Tandaan natin hindi pa po tayo normal. Kahit po magbukas lahat 'yan, hindi po tayo back to normal noong before COVID,” Garcia said. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News