Taxis, TNVS may operate

CEBU, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 has released guidelines on the operation of taxis and Transport Network Vehicle (TNVs) in areas declared under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2020-018 stated that passenger load shall not exceed three (two passengers at the back, while one at the front row).

The driver compartment should be sealed off from the passenger area using non-permeable and transparent material.

Taxi and TNVS drivers are also required to wear masks and gloves at all times, while the commuters are required to wear masks.

A “no face mask, no ride” policy will be enforced.

Only taxis and TNVS who are holders of valid and existing provisional authority or grantees of Certificate of Public Convenience are allowed to operate. Their units must be currently registered with valid Personal Passenger Insurance Policy.

The memorandum circular added that there shall be no operations of TNVS and taxi service in Metro Manila, Cebu City and other areas declared under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.

For purposes of contact tracing, all drivers shall maintain a daily passenger manifest or logbook to record pertinent information of the commuters who utilized the vehicle such as name, address and contact number.

Taxi and TNVS operators should ensure the fitness of drivers by checking their body temperature and screening/detecting any symptoms of COVID-19 prior to dispatch.

“While public transportation in areas under GCQ is still limited and in reduced capacity, there is still a need to provide passengers who are allowed to travel an alternative mode of public transport that would provide them with door-to-door transport service taking into consideration security, convenience and exclusivity given this period of public health emergency,” the memorandum circular read.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and LTFRB Board Member Ronaldo Corpus had signed the memorandum.

The memorandum circular took effect last May 16 but was released only yesterday by LTFRB-7 for widest dissemination.  GAN (FREEMAN)