IATF raising public transport capacity to 70% only a matter of time, says Palace

The Philippines’ COVID-19 task force is now considering allowing the ridership in public transport to increase to 70%.

This, to ease the commuting woes of  workers.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the proposal of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was pending before the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“Pinag-iisipan po talaga iyan ng IATF dahil alam natin na ang tanging paraan para maiahon sa kahirapan ay ang pagbubukas ng ekonomiya na pupuwede naman pong mangyari sa pamamagitan ng pag-iingat ng buhay para  makapaghanapbuhay,” Roque said at a news conference in Boracay on Monday.

“At sa tingin ko po it’s a matter of time bago natin maibalik sa 70% itong transportation natin.”

In a resolution approved on October 2, the IATF backed the further reopening of public transportation “in such manner that is sufficient and safe to the public following health expert’s guidance on minimum health standards.”

The government has also required big companies or those with total assets of P100 million located inside special economic zones and other areas under the jurisdiction of investment promotion agencies to provide shuttle services for their employees.

Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte retained the policy of one-meter distance between passengers on public transport after the Department of Transportation’s move to reduce the physical distance to 0.75 meters drew mixed reactions from medical experts and the general public Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte retained the policy of one-meter distance between passengers on public transport after the Department of Transportation’s move to reduce the physical distance to 0.75 meters drew mixed reactions from medical experts and the general public. -NB, GMA News