DOTr pushes private sector to provide transpo for workers amid GCQ

After over two months of lockdowns, the government on Tuesday again asked the private companies to provide transportation services for their employees given the limited options available under the general community quarantine (GCQ).

At a press conference, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reiterated earlier calls of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide shuttle services to employees.

"Sinasabi po namin, nung nakaraan, sinabi ng DTI kung kayo'y magbubukas ng kaganapan ng paghahanapbuhay, kailangan niyo lang 'yung mga employer ay mag-provide ng ways of communications and transportation kagaya ng shuttle bus," he said.

Metro Manila, along with several other areas, was placed under GCQ on June 1, paving the way for more businesses to open.

On the same day, public transportation reopened, albeit on a limited basis, capped at 30% of capacity prior to the quarantines.

Workers then had difficulty in securing transportation to their respective places of employment, with some forced to walk kilometers.

"Ito ho, sambot at sama sama tayong magkapit-bisig ng sa ganon ma-address natin 'yung tinatawag na balancing act in the performance of our mandate as transportation," said Tugade.

"We provide the modes of transportation as we balance that with our responsibility to make sure that the spread of the virus is contained, mitigated, and totally removed," he added.

According to the latest data available from the DTI, 99.52% of the total 1.003 million business establishments in the country as of 2018 were micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Micro enterprises are defined as those with total assets worth less than P50,000; cottage enterprises with assets worth P50,001 to P500,000; small with P500,001 to P5 million; and medium from over P5 million to P20 million. -MDM, GMA News