Plastic barriers no longer required inside PUVs starting Nov. 4 —DOTr

Public utility vehicles will no longer be required to put plastic dividers separating passengers starting Thursday, November 4, an Unang Balita report said Monday.

"Wala rin hong medical findings yung aming pag-aaral na ito po ay makakapagpaiwas ho sa paghawa ng COVID-19 bagkus ay ito po ay maaaring kabitan ng virus because of the plastic material," said Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor.

(There's no medical findings that shows plastic barriers can lessen the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. Instead, they can even carry the virus because of the plastic material.)

Since they were allowed to operate, PUV drivers and operators have been required to use plastic barriers to separate passengers inside their units and to comply with the 50% capacity rule in public transport.

Also starting November 4, the capacity allowed in PUVs has been increased to 70%.

Despite these adjustments, the Department of Transportation stressed that health safety measures will still be strictly implemented in PUVs. —KBK, GMA News