ILOILO City – Social distancing means increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Because COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, social distancing is highly recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Social distancing, however, is very difficult to carry out in public utility vehicles, specifically the passenger jeepneys, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
He thus ordered a halt to the operation of passenger jeepneys while the city is on an enhanced community quarantine against COVID-19 until April 14, unless extended or shortened.
The jeepney ban starts today.
Treñas said he consulted with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regional director Richard Osmeña about the temporary jeepney ban.
“Mabudlay mag-social distancing ang aton mga pumoluyo sa public utility jeepneys,” said Treñas yesterday.
The objective of social distancing is to reduce the probability of contact between persons carrying an infection, and others who are not infected, so as to minimize disease transmission, morbidity and ultimately, mortality.
Treñas, however, clarified that jeepneys delivering agricultural products to and from the city could ply the city’s streets.
Only the following public utility vehicles are allowed to transport passengers because social distancing in them is possible: buses, taxis, tricycles and trisikads.
Still, tricycles and trisikads could only pass local roads, not national roads, stressed Treñas.
Osmeña, meanwhile, assured the city mayor the Board will permit 10 buses to serve passengers in the first few hours today.
The regional director also told Treñas all healthcare workers boarding buses do not have to pay fare; they just have to present their identification cards.
For non-healthcare workers, a P10 fare is imposed.
Osmeña said TFRB is ready to dispatch more buses, if the city government will request for augmentation./PN
