PCCI urges gov’t to hike public transport capacity for sustainable recovery

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s biggest business group, called on the government to increase the modes of transportation and allow public utility vehicles (PUVs) to operate at least 80% of capacity.

“Transportation is crucial to effectively revitalize businesses and help them recover. Many of our members continue to hurt even as they have been allowed to re-open because their workers are hampered by the lack of or absence of public transportation.  Moreover, consumer demand continues to be low,” Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI president, said in a statement.

The PCCI chief said allowing more modes of public transportation and increasing their carrying capacity will enable the economy to efficiently bounce back and sustainably recover. 

“The public health threat of COVID-19 is testing the willingness of workers and consumers to get back to their pre-COVID-19 routines,” Yujuico said.

The business group’s appeal came a week after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) brought back the mandated one-meter distance between passengers inside public transport.

The IATF-approved proposal of the DOTr to gradually reduce the distance among passengers was met with oppositions from several medical experts and government officials, arguing it could trigger a spike in COVID-19 cases.

For the PCCI chief, however, the “COVID-19 has been with us for six months now, and is not going away soon.”

“We should not let it keep us hostage.  Instead, we have to know how to move our way with the virus,” Yujuico stressed,” Yujuico said.

He noted that the challenge for businesses, even for those that have the capacity to provide shuttle services, is to have their workers get to the pick-up points which were normally served by jeepneys and tricycles. 

“Those without shuttle services who take their rides in buses and trains along major thoroughfares are forced to take tricycles and pay more than the regular fare, or jostle for one of the few jeepney rides that have been allowed to operate,” he said.

The PCCI chief said a coordinated response by the government, the private sector and the riding public can help mitigate the spread of the virus.

“Since government says the use of face masks and face shield provides 96% safety or protection, we suggest to also add protocols such as no talking, no eating, and no using of cellphone inside the public vehicles to provide more safety measures,” Yujuico said.

He is supporting the earlier call of other business organizations to adopt “The 7 Commandments,” which medical expert proponents believe can manage viral transmissions well even when reducing physical distancing requirements.

In addition, Yujuico said such measures must be properly communicated to transport operators and the riding public to regain people’s confidence in the public transport system and encourage them to engage in economic activities that can revitalize local industries.

PCCI was the first business organization to call for the lifting of transport restrictions to improve the mobility of workers and ensure the efficient resumption of business.

The group expressed its appreciation that there is now an increasing support for full transport reopening in support of the revitalization of businesses.

It also appealed to the government to allow more industries to operate, make returning to work easier on employees and improve consumer confidence. -MDM, GMA News