Return of full capacity to public transport possible

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) may recommend returning passengers to public vehicles to full capacity.

This is if the increase in the capacity of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to 70 percent, which began this Thursday, will not lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

According to the DOTr, a month will observe 70 percent capacity in PUVs in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

It is said that such areas were selected as pilot areas with higher passenger capacity due to their high vaccination rates.

“Ie-evaluate ng DOTr kung epektibo po itong ating increase in capacity,” said Transportation Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor.

“We are asking all our operators [and] drivers na dapat obserbahan natin ‘yong tamang seating capacity para mapatunayan po natin sa ating mga medical experts, mapatunayan po sa gobyerno na handa na tayo sa 100 percent in capacity.”

Even with extra capacity, health protocols such as wearing a face mask and face shield, prohibition of speech and food, proper ventilation, and frequent disinfection are still strictly enforced.

Apart from jeeps, buses, and UV Express, the capacity of the Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Philippine National Railways lines is also 70 percent.

So this Thursday morning, 30,000 were on the MRT during rush hour compared to 10,000 when the capacity was only 30 percent.

Return of full capacity to public transport possible

The MRT and DOTr will discuss extending operating hours now that the curfew in Metro Manila has been lifted.

According to the DOTr, trips to busways and integrated bus terminals should be 24/7.

Several buses and jeeps on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, were hit for violating 70 percent capacity.

Buses and jeeps that were overcrowded were first warned by the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic instead of tickets.

Meanwhile, more passengers will be allowed to board Philippine National Railways (PNR), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), and Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains starting Thursday, November 4.

The leadership of the Department of Transportation is confident that increasing the seating capacity of their passengers on trains to 70 percent will not be the reason for the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.