Año says buses will be allowed in GCQ areas at 50% capacity

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday said buses would be allowed to operate in areas under general community quarantine.

In a television interview, Año said passenger buses are allowed provided that they will only operate at 50% capacity.

"Under GCQ, ang buses papayagan na rin 'yan pero 50% capacity at mayroon dapat provisions diyan ng minimum health standards," Año told CNN.

"'Yung mga upuan niyan ay hindi talaga dapat uupuan lahat, may alternately... nasa kanan 'yung una, 'yung susunod nasa kaliwa and so on and so forth..." he added.

He also said bus terminals would implement a "log-in" system for passengers for possible contact tracing measures.

Meanwhile, when it comes to jeepneys, traditional jeepneys may be allowed to operate if they have reconfigured their seats and the Department of Transportation approves it, Año said.

"Ang problema kasi sa traditional jeepney magkakalapit at magkakaharap, kapag dumaan 'yung pasahero diyan ay talagang almost face to face na rin 'yung kanilang distansya. So one way is to reconfigure the seats and have it approved by DOTr and probably it's time na siguro na magmodernize jeepney na tayo," he said.

Año said jeepneys could also be used for deliveries: "May pag-gagamitan pa rin 'yung jeepney na 'yan, sabi natin puwede delivery vehicles 'yung mga 'yan at maggagamit," he said.

Earlier, Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia said jeepneys and buses are still not allowed to resume operations when Metro Manila shifts to GCQ.

The Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended that Metro Manila and Davao City be placed under GCQ from June 1 to 15, according to the task force's adviser, Dr. Tony Leachon.

This will still be subjected for approval of President Rodrigo Duterte who is expected to address the public tonight.  — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News