DOTr to push through with reduced distancing

MANILA, Philippines — Commuters will now sit or stand a fraction less than one meter apart inside various public utility vehicles (PUVs) and trains in Metro Manila beginning tomorrow, according to a new government protocol.

The implementation of this new guideline falls on the same day as the resumption of operations of over 1,100 more public utility jeepneys plying 28 reopened routes in Metro Manila.

But this easing of the social distancing protocol for the riding public has alarmed health advocates, including a former adviser of the National Task Force against COVID-19.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered the easing of physical distancing measures from one meter to 0.75 m in a bid to increase ridership in public transportation.

“We would like to inform you that we will implement this new protocol starting Sept. 14,” DOTr Undersecretary for administrative service Artemio Tuazon Jr. said at a virtual briefing yesterday.

Tuazon said the distance between commuters will be cut further in the next two weeks.

The DOTr, however, said that passengers should continue to observe one-meter distance from each other once outside the train or vehicle or during queuing, embarkation and disembarkation.

The adjustment inside the trains is expected to ramp up the passenger capacity of the LRT-1 to 204 from 155, the LRT-2 to 212 from 160, the MRT-3 to 204 from 153 and the PNR to 184 from 166.

Load capacity of roll-on, roll-off passenger vessels will increase to 75 percent from 50 percent.

For modern utility jeepneys, this would mean one to three additional passengers to the current reduced capacity accommodating 10 to 11 passengers, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra said.

Between one to three passengers would also be added in buses with 2x2 seating configuration, while those with a 3x2 seating configuration can now use the aisle seats, increasing capacity from the current 24 to 25 to as many as 30 seats, Delgra said.

Delgra said one to two additional passengers can also be accommodated per UV Express unit beginning tomorrow with the relaxed distancing measure in place.

The distance between commuters will be further reduced from 0.75 meters beginning tomorrow to 0.5 meters on Sept. 28, and then to 0.3 meters on Oct. 12.

“Even if we reduce the distance between passengers inside the public transport, the strict enforcement of our health and sanitation protocols like wearing of face mask and face shield should continue, temperature check and regular disinfection to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said.

‘Closing gap will spread virus’

Health reform advocate Anthony Leachon, former National Task Force on COVID-19 adviser, opposed closing the gap between commuters, saying it would lead to easier spreading of the coronavirus.

In an interview with “The Chiefs,” Leachon noted that the move to shorten the required physical distancing in public transportation is “not a sound idea.”

He said there is no evidence that a distance of less than one meter in a public transport vehicle can help prevent the transmission of the virus.

“Virus will be happy with this move of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) … There is no science, or literature, or not even in the World Health Organization and I went around the world, that says that less that one meter is applicable,” Leachon said.

Yesterday, Libiran insisted that other health safety policies will be strictly observed and monitored.

She said the DOTr would deploy transportation marshals to monitor compliance not only to the new policy but even the existing ones such as the mandatory use of face shields in public transportation.

For the railways, PNR general manager Junn Magno said markers would be adjusted to reflect the new 0.75-meter distancing requirement.

He said standing passengers will have to look in only one direction which will be determined by the destination of the trip, whether northbound or southbound.

They will remain restricted from using phones for calls as well as conversing with co-passengers and crew.

Magno said upon arrival at the station, passengers must wash and disinfect their hands in a handwashing facility or by using a sanitizer provided.

28 jeepney routes reopened

Also tomorrow, over 1,100 more public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will return to the streets.

Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-046, a total of 1,159 traditional jeepneys plying 28 routes will resume operations.

This brings the total number of available jeepney units for the commuting public to 17,372 along 206 routes.

Only roadworthy traditional jeepney units with personal passenger insurance will be allowed to resume operations without a special permit.

Drivers and operators will still be required to download a QR code which should be displayed inside the unit.

There are also 786 modern PUJs under 45 routes and 3,854 buses under 32 routes previously opened by the LTFRB.

There are also 387 available point-to-point buses serving 34 routes as well as 1,905 UV Express units under 59 routes.

Meanwhile, there are a total of 20,891 taxi units and 23,968 transport network vehicle services also available to serve the public.

Listed below are the newly-reopened PUJ routes:

• T140 Araneta University - Victoneta Ave./McArthur

• T141 SM North EDSA - Luzon Ave. (Puregold)

• T142 Balintawak - PUC via Baesa

• T143 BF Homes - Novaliches

• T144 Novaliches - Bignay

• T145 Novaliches - Pangarap Village via Quirino Highway, Novaliches

• T146 Novaliches - Shelterville via Congressional

• T147 - Novaliches - Urduja

• T148 Novaliches Town Proper - Barangay Deparo

• T149 Grotto, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan - Novaliches

• T240  Aurora/Lauan - EDSA North Ave.

• T241 Cubao - Proj. 2&3 via 20th Ave., P. Tuazon

• T242 Calumpang - LRT 2 (Katipunan Ave.) via Aurora Blvd.

• T340 Bel-Air - Washington

• T341 Brgy. North Bay Boulevard - Pier South via Road 10

• T342 Divisoria - Pier South via Delpan

• T343 Kalentong/Romualdez - San Juan Via Little Baguio

• T344 Kayamanan C - Washington

• T345 L. Guinto - Zobel Roxas via Paco Market

• T346 Pier South - San Andres

• T347 Blumentritt - Libertad via Quiapo,Mabini

• T348 Blumentritt - Pier South via Sta. Cruz

• T349 Brgy. Bagong Silangan - Marcos Ave. Sampaguita

• T350 Dapitan - Delos Reyes/P. Campa via Andalucia/Laong Laan

• T351 Kamuning - Vito Cruz via E. Rodriguez, A. Mabini

• T409 Alabang - Muntinlupa (Bilibid Prison)

• T409 Alabang - Muntinlupa (Bilibid Prison) via Katarungan Village

• T410 Alabang - Bagumbayan via Bicutan FTI SSH Loop – Sheila Crisostomo, Romina Cabrera