Ayon kay DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, inaprubahan ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) sa huling Omnibus Guidelines na magpatuloy ang operasyon ng public transportation.
Gayunman, iginiit ng kalihim na tanging Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) lamang ang maa-accommodate ng public transport services.
“Restrictions will be applied on passengers. There will be stricter enforcement to ensure that only APORs are permitted to use public transport, as mandated by the IATF,” pahayag ni Tugade.
Paalala nito sa mga APOR, ipakita sa transport marshals ang kanilang identification cards na inilabas ng IATF o iba pang dokumento o ID na magpapatunay na awtorisado silang bumiyahe.
Nilinaw ng kalihim na kahit na binigyan ng awtorisasyon ang kagawaran na magdesisyon sa bilang ng papayagang public transport vehicles at commuter, maari pa rin itong baguhin ng IATF.
“But, should the IATF decide otherwise, we will abide,” ani Tugade.
Sa kasagsagan ng ECQ, public transportation, at lahat ng iba pang uri ng transportasyon – privately-owned, may special permit, at dedicated service sa ilalim ng inisyatibo ng gobyerno, kailangang sundin ang physical distancing at sanitary measures sa lahat ng oras.
Sinabi ni Tugade na magpapatupad ang I-ACT enforcers at transport marshals ng mas istriktong health protocols sa transport terminals at stations upang matiyak na masusunod pa rin ang public transport health protocols.
Apela naman ng kalihim sa mga commuter at transport operator, makipagtulungan sa gobyerno sa pagpapatupad ng istriktong health protocols lalo na’t patuloy na nilalabanan ng bansa ang mas nakakahawang Delta variant ng COVID-19.
“We at the DOTr reiterate the need for us to strictly observe the necessary health and safety measures aboard public transportation. We are more adamant now, as we reinforce the government initiatives and measures to prevent the spread of the highly-transmissible Delta variant,” saad ni Tugade.
Dagdag nito, “We therefore remind the riding public of the importance of stringently observing the Public Transport Health Protocols, based on the recommendations of health experts, to protect and uphold the overall welfare of the passengers, and other transport stakeholders.”