BACOLOD City – The Ceres buses of Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI) will resume operation on May 18.
While this city and Negros Occidental would begin observing a general community quarantine tomorrow allowing the resumption of public transport, VTI’s buses would not immediately return to the streets.
Jade Seballos, media relations officer of VTI, cited several considerations that must first be implemented at their various bus terminals throughout Negros Occidental.
Among others, there would be a reorientation of their bus drivers and conductors. Health safety protocols would be discussed with them, said Seballos.
VTI was also still finalizing new policies for the riding public to protect their health from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Seballos added.
VTI plans to pick up passengers only from “terminal to terminal” where footbaths could be easily carried out.
But in areas where there are no Ceres bus terminals, Seballos said VTI would be coordinating with local government units concerned for the identification of pick-up points or bus stops.
Also, the company would be making it a protocol to do a thermal scanner of passengers.
Yes, all passengers would be required to wear facemasks, said Seballos.
Passengers, too, would be obliged to write their names and pertinent information in the bus manifesto at the terminals before boarding buses.
The information provided would be used for contracting tracing if there would be a need for such, said Seballos.
The number of passengers that buses could accommodate would be trimmed – only 50 percent of their normal passenger capacity – for social distancing purposes.
Seballos said VTI was also waiting for the new fare matrix from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board./PN
