ILOILO City – Traffic was heavy on the first day of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in this city.
Mayor Jerry Treñas was not surprised. The deluge of people from the provinces of Panay Island and from Guimaras Island going back to the city was expected, he said.
Public Safety and Transportation and Management Office (PSTMO) personnel were busy directing the flow of vehicles on Monday to ease traffic congestion.
Treñas said it may take three more days to even a week before the traffic situation normalizes.
But it would be a “new normal”. For one, only 50 percent of public utility vehicles are allowed to operate (per route) as agreed by the city government and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
“From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. it was light to moderate but medyo nagdamo-damo na sang udto,” said PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu.
He was referring to not only public utility vehicles but also to private vehicles.
Treñas said he would be checking with LTFRB-6 director Richard Osmeña if there is a need to increase the number of jeepneys allowed to operate.
The city mayor urged public utility vehicle operators, drivers and passengers to follow the transportation guidelines stated in his Executive Order (EO) No. 086 implementing MGCQ.
“Nagapangabay gid ako sang bulig sa tanan. Kadamo pa sang aton obrahon. Importante nga let us never forget that the virus is still there. We have to make sure ang tanan nga minimum health standards masunod,” said Treñas.
These guidelines are the following:
* Drivers, conductors and commuters are required to wear facemask. No face mask, no ride.
* Fares shall be collected before a passenger boards the jeepney or bus.
* Buses must have thermal scanners to check the temperature of passengers and drivers.
* Drivers must disinfect their vehicles before and after trips.
* A non-permeable material or acetate must be installed inside vehicles to separate the driver from passengers, and separate the passengers, too.
* Buses, modern jeepneys and shuttle services must only board around 50 percent of their capacity to ensure physical distancing.
* Drivers showing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, dry cough, sore throat, tiredness, among others) won’t be allowed to work but brought to a medical facility for checkup.
Also, under EO No. 086, back-riding on motorcycles is prohibited./PN
