Public transportation likely to remain in ECQ areas for vaccination —Padilla

Public transportation will likely still be allowed by the national government during the enforcement of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila due to the vaccination program, National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said Sunday.

In an interview over Dobol B TV, Padilla reiterated that Metro Manila is eyeing to inoculate 250,000 individuals daily amid the strictest form of quarantine in the metropolis from Aug. 6 to 20. 

"Hindi na hihigpitan siguro nang lubos sa transportation sector dahil isang anunsyo na nilabas ni (presidential spokesman) Secretary Roque kamakailan 'yung pagpapatuloy ng vaccination. Maski tayo naghihigpit sa ECQ, increased ramp up ang pagbabakuna ng kababayan," he said after he was asked if the government will decrease the number of public transportation options.

(There will be likely a less strict policy for the transportation sector because Secretary Roque already said the vaccination will continue. Even as we will impose ECQ, there will be an increased ramp up of the vaccination.)

Since there is a "race against time" for vaccination, Padilla said they also expect the arrival of 16.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the month of August.

"Sinusubukan dagdagan pa ito (We are trying to add more vaccines.)," he said.

For now, Roque said they still have no issued guidelines for the transportation sector once the ECQ is implemented.

The transportation sector had already proposed to the national government to retain the current public transportation supply during the two-week ECQ.

With the rising number of Delta variant COVID-19 cases, the national government decided to reimpose ECQ, the strictest quarantine status, which was reached after the Metro Manila Council appealed for stricter measures in the metropolis.

To date, the Philippines reported a total of 216 cases of the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant. —KG, GMA News