ILOILO City – Public utility vehicle drivers and conductors here have been ordered to wear facemasks by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as the government steps up precautionary measures to deter a possible spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The transport sector which is being overseen by the LTFRB is the latest to take preemptive steps to protect its stakeholders from this new viral infection. Operators of transport terminals were directed to ensure the proper sanitation and cleanliness of their facilities as well as provide facemasks and disinfectants to passengers for free.
All drivers and public utility vehicle operators must comply with the LTFRB order or they would be meted with sanctions, according to Raymundo Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA).
Non-compliance would be a violation of their jeepney franchises, explained Parcon.
In Memorandum Circular 2020-005, LTFRB required the drivers and conductors “to properly wear facemasks at all times while on duty, and for all franchise holders to ensure their compliance.”
Parcon would be calling for a meeting today with ICLAJODA chapter presidents and discuss the LTFRB order. The association has around 3,000 members.
He will also be distributing facemasks, said Parcon, and would further direct drivers to bring with them disinfectants (alcohol or hand sanitizers).
“Bisan magasto sa part namon, para man ini sa amon safety,” said Parcon.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative (ICAODTC) had a meeting over the weekend with member drivers, operators and public assistant officers (conductors) about the LTFRB order.
ICAODTC board secretary Rizal Alido said they were all cooperative.
For its part, Vallacar Transit, operator of Ceres buses, confirmed having disseminated the LTFRB order to its drivers and conductors.
But even prior to LTFRB’s order, said Jade Seballos, the legal and media relations officer of Vallacar Transit, they were already orienting their people about the importance of personal hygiene, especially hand washing.
The company would be distributing hand sanitizers to its drivers although it is having a hard time procuring a big volume of facemasks, added Seballos.
Seballos also assured the riding public that Vallar Transit is fastidious about the cleanliness of their Ceres buses.
Coronaviruses are common, and typically cause mild respiratory conditions, such as a cough or runny nose.
But some are more serious – such as the deadly SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers).
This current outbreak – known as novel coronavirus (nCoV) – is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
It seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and then, after a week, leads to shortness of breath.
But in more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Most victims have been elderly people, suffering from other chronic diseases.
The World Health Organization is advising people in affected areas to follow standard procedures to reduce the chance of catching the virus. They include hand and respiratory hygiene as well as safe food practices.
People are advised to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections; wash hands regularly, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment; and avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
Avoiding eating raw or undercooked animal products is also advised.
Those with symptoms of coronavirus should practice “cough etiquette”, including maintaining distance, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or the inside of an elbow, and washing hands. (With a report from the BBC/PN)
