MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) brought back its one-meter physical distancing rule among commuters in all public transportation pending President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the postponement of the implementation of the 0.75-meter distancing was agreed upon during the Inter-Agency Task Force of the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) meeting yesterday.
“Sa pulong po ng IATF, sinabi po ni DOTr secretary (Arthur) Tugade na samantalang isususpinde po ‘yung implementasyon ng 0.75 (meter) na distancing sa pampublikong transportasyon at ibabalik ito sa one meter,” Roque said.
Roque added that the one-meter distancing stays until Duterte decides on the matter during his public address on Monday evening, Sept. 21.
“Inaasahan natin na siguro po magkakaroon ng desisyon ang Presidente sa Lunes,” he said. “Ang report po na pag-aaralan ni Presidente ay isusumite pa lamang (kahapon).”
“Kung i-implement ‘yan parang it becomes urgent, the President must act on it right away. So sabi niya, ‘to give the President all the time that he needs to study the matter, balik muna tayo sa one-meter (rule) and until he says so we will not implement the 0.75,’” he added.
The government eased physical distancing in public transport from one meter to 0.75 meters beginning last Monday following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force and National Task Force Against COVID-19.
This new rule of the DOTr and the Economic Development Cluster also drew criticism from netizens and a number of sectors.
The IATF-EID promised to review the policy after a physician’s group earlier warned of a possible rise in virus transmission due to the easing of distancing rules./PN
