ILOILO City – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Western Visayas is reducing physical distancing controls between passengers in maritime transportation.
Unlike in land transport, one-meter distancing requirement among commuters of sea vessels in the region is being reduced to 0.75 meters beginning today, according to Regional Director Jose Venancio Vero.
Vero said he received an advisory from the MARINA central office mandating the relaxed physical distancing rules.
“Ang instruction naman nila is to implement talaga,” the regional director added.
The gradual easing of physical distancing in public transport aims to invigorate the economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Vero asserted that this new policy will not compromise the health of sea passengers, especially in motorboats plying the Iloilo City and Guimaras route and roll-on, roll off ships in Dumangas, Iloilo.
“Hindi na naman masyadong marami ang mga pasahero kaya ‘yung pag-reduce ng physical distancing wala namang problema,” Vero told Panay News.
Vero also said the suspension of fast craft trips from Iloilo to Bacolod City, which is under modified enhanced community quarantine, is still in effect.
“Ang biyahe naman ng barko from Palawan, Cebu and Metro Manila, ang kanilang capacity is around 700 to 900 pero kumakarga lang sila ng 300,” he added.
Although physical distancing policy in sea vessel is being relaxed, Vero urged passengers to continue observing health protocols like wearing of facemask, face shield, frequent hand washing and proper hygiene.
In Region 6, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office (LTFRB), MARINA and Department of Health decided to keep the one-meter distance rule between passengers of public utility vehicles.
Their officials agreed not to rush in enforcing the Department of Transportation (DOTr) order reducing the space between public transport passengers.
According to Director Richard Osmeña of LTFRB, they would wait for further clarifications from DOTr, including the diagram for the new seating distance in PUVs.
President Rodrigo Duterte will decide no later than today on the fate of the DOTr’s controversial move.
Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had a six-hour meeting on Tuesday to “reassess” the policy after medical experts warned that reducing the one-meter physical distance among commuters may lead to further coronavirus transmission.
“The body came up with a recommendation to be submitted to the President and it will be the President who will ultimately decide,” Roque told CNN Philippines’ The Source./PN
