Standing passengers prohibited in jeepneys, buses under Alert Level 1 — MMDA

Jeepneys and buses are prohibited to have standing passengers under Alert Level 1 as they are only allowed to use their full seating capacity, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Tuesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, MMDA officer-in-charge and general manager Romando Artes said they discussed this matter with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Hindi papayagan ‘yung tayuan dahil ang nakalagay po sa guidelines ng IATF ay full seating capacity, meaning yung kapasidad lang po ng sasakyan kung saan ang pasahero ay nakaupo. Yun lamang po yung papayagan except po sa MRT...sa capacity yung nakatayo kasi kung makikita niyo ang MRT naman po, LRT, designed po na kaunti lang ang nakaupo at mas maraming nakatayo. Except po doon, sa mga buses at jeepneys po, full seating capacity lang),” he said.

(Standing passengers would not be allowed because the IATF guidelines only allowed full seating capacity, which means the capacity of the vehicles where the passengers will sit. Only that will be allowed except for MRT... in standing passengers because MRT and LRT were designed to have a few passengers sitting and more passengers standing. Except for these, in buses and jeepneys, only full seating capacity is allowed.)

Starting March 1 until March 15, the National Capital Region and 37 other areas in the country will be under the Alert Level 1, the lowest COVID-19 risk classification.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.

So far, Artes the implementation of full capacity in public transport has been orderly. According to him, passengers now are disciplined and self-regulating.

“Sa ngayon, maayos naman po yung pagpapatupad. Sa tingin naman po namin nadisiplina na yung mga tao at nagse-self-regulate din po,” he said.

(So far, the protocols in public transport are being implemented well. The people are disciplined and self-regulating.)

Provincial buses

Asked about the possible return of provincial buses in EDSA, Artes said the MMDA and LTFRB will discuss the matter in the coming days.

He said it would be a challenge to have provincial buses back on EDSA considering the reduced space in the major thoroughfare due to the exclusive lane designated for Bus Carousel and bikes.

The MMDA will also observe the effect of the Alert Level 1 on the traffic condition for a week to decide whether it will expand the number coding scheme.

In a radio interview, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that vaccination cards are still required when entering closed and crowded establishments.

For campaign rallies, Malaya said 18 years old and above who will attend the political activity are required to present vaccination cards.

“Kung hindi po kayo bakunado, meron kayong magiging limitasyon kasi may mga lugar tayo na nire-require yung proof of vaccination,” he said.

(If you are not vaccinated, you will have limitations because we have areas that require a proof of vaccination.)

“For example, kasama yung sa election related events. Pupunta tayo sa isang stadium dahil mag-aatend tayo ng political rally, ire-require po ang vaccination doon for 18 years old and above,” he added.

(For example, including election related activities. We will go to a stadium top attend a political rally, vaccination cards will be required for 18 years old and above.)

Malaya said that people below 18 years old will be allowed inside the venue of a campaign rally if they are accompanied by their parents.

According to a report of James Agustin on GMA News’ Unang Balita, some passengers in MRT-3 were not following the social distancing protocols on the first day of Alert Level 1.

With 100% full capacity,  a train set can accommodate around 1,182 passengers.

In Pasay City, a burger joint in Pasay said it will hire additional personnel to accommodate more customers, according to a report of Mai Bermudez.

Meanwhile in Manila, a goto store already removed plastic barriers and added more tables and chairs as the NCR shifted to Alert Level 1.

According to a report of Darlene Cay, the buses on EDSA-Monumento are boarding only 15 passengers to reserve spaces for other passengers in the next stops. — RSJ, GMA News