ILOILO City – Vallacar Transit, Inc. temporarily stopped the operation of its Ceres buses throughout Panay Island beginning March 24 in line with the enhanced community quarantine being imposed by the provincial governments of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Capiz.
However, it has made available Ceres buses in this city to serve people working in frontline or essential services such as healthcare, pharmacies, grocery stores and others that the city government has exempted.
The temporarily suspension of Ceres buses will be until April 14 unless the quarantine period is lifted earlier or extended further.
According to Janice Original, administrative manager of Vallacar Transit, the order to stop came from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
She also said some municipalities, fearful of the possible entry of the coronavirus disease 2019 in their turfs, were turning Ceres buses away, and this was considered, too, in the company’s decision to temporarily stop the buses from operating.
Regarding the Ceres buses’ operation in Iloilo City, Original said no less than Mayor Jerry Treñas asked LTFRB to allow between 25 to 30 units to operate.
In buses, social distancing among passengers is possible, unlike in passenger jeepneys and taxis which were temporarily prohibited from operating.
Original clarified that the provincial government did not suspend the operation of Ceres buses. She said
Executive Order No. 080 of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. “enforcing an enhanced community quarantine over the entire province of Iloilo for stronger protection against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019)” in fact exempted public utilities providing transport service.
Defensor, stressed, however, that social distancing must be strictly observed in buses, said Original.
The governor cited the guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation. One provision stated: “Public utility buses shall only cater to not more than 25 passengers, including the driver and conductor. No passengers must be standing. The one-seat apart policy must be observed.”
Meanwhile, Original said Vallacar Transit has been looking after the welfare of its drivers and conductors temporarily out of work due to the community quarantine. Their salaries for March 30 were released in advance and so, too, were their 13th month pay./PN
