By Raadee Sausa October 4, 2020 Regional Office of the Department of Education thr...
October 4, 2020
|
| Regional Office of the Department of Education through Dir. Wilfredo Cabral and Lucena School Division Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Panganiban recognized Lucena City Roderick "Dondon" Alcala for continued support for the education of the youth of Lucena. (Photo from PIO Lucena) |
A lawmaker from Lucena City opposed the provincial buses to operate yet to avoid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mayor Roderick Dondon Alcala said that his decision is for the safety of his localities and to avoid Covid-19 from spreading.
"Mainam na po na tayo ay nag-iingat para po sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayang Lucenahin maging ang mga taga-ibang bayan sa lalawigan," Alcala said.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), earlier, said
provincial bus operations will finally roll on September 30 but only from terminal to terminal without stopovers and without any increase in fares.
Martin Delgra, LTFRB said that those were among the conditions of local government officials from Central Luzon and Calabarzon before they agreed to allow the resumption of provincial bus operations in their areas.
“One of the recommendations of the local government units, which we fully agree [with], is point-to-point so that we will be able to manage people on the ground. The plan is for people to start or end their trips in integrated terminal exchanges,” he said.
Moreover, the police task force against COVID-19 will strictly implement health measures in transport terminals as some provincial bus operations resumed.
“We need to ensure that both the bus company employees and the passengers will observe the minimum health safety standard protocol especially on wearing masks and face shields and the observation of physical distancing inside passenger buses,” Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said.
He reminded bus drivers and conductors not to pick up passengers outside bus terminals. Eating, drinking and talking on buses are also prohibited.
Meanwhile medical frontliners and those working in vital industries are exempted from the travel authority requirements especially if they are living in the provinces and working in Metro Manila, a Joint Task Force Covid Shield official said on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, task force head, made the clarification amid confusion over reports that all passengers need to present a travel authority before boarding provincial buses bound for Metro Manila that were allowed to resume operations.
He said the National Task Force on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has always maintained that the travel protocols are relaxed for medical frontliners and workers of companies and industries for the economy to continue run amid the difficulties brought by the pandemic.
“They are considered as the backbone of our economy and our response against the spread of the coronavirus disease in these trying times. As per Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, their travel must be less restricted since they play a key role in the effective response of the government on Covid-19,” Eleazar added.
Earlier, Año said the welfare of medical frontliners and workers of permitted industries have always been a priority in the crafting and implementation of policies that would affect them, especially on their travel to work and back home.
“We would like to remind the bus companies that all that medical front liners and workers of industries that were given clearance to operate during community quarantine only have to present valid identification cards or Certificate of Employment proving that their travel is work-related,” Eleazar said.
He said the travel authority is only required for the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and Unauthorized Persons Outside of Residence (UPORs).
A medical clearance certificate from city and municipal health office and prior coordination with the receiving local government units are needed before a travel authority is issued to LSIs and UPORs.
It was reported earlier that, after six months in their garages, provincial bus operations will finally roll on September 30 but only from terminal to terminal without stopovers and without any increase in fares.
Martin Delgra, chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that those were among the conditions of local government officials from Central Luzon and Calabarzon before they agreed to allow the resumption of provincial bus operations in their areas.
“One of the recommendations of the local government units, which we fully agree [with], is point-to-point so that we will be able to manage people on the ground. The plan is for people to start or end their trips in integrated terminal exchanges,” he said.
No comments