Robredo questions basis for reduced distancing in public transport

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday questioned the scientific basis behind the government’s decision to allow the gradual reduction of physical distancing in public transportation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Iyong sa akin lang, nakabase ba ito sa siyensiya? Iyong 0.3 nakabase ba siya sa siyensiya? Kung iyong point nito, iyong mas marami iyong kita ng drivers, na okay naman, pero may ibang mas epektibong paraan,” Robredo said in her weekly radio show.

“Ako, baka mayroon naman silang basehan. Actually, noong nabasa ko iyong balita kahapon, naghahanap ako ng datos na nagsasabi na okay iyong less than 1 meter, pero wala akong nahanap. So hindi natin alam kung ano iyong basis ng DOTr,” Robredo said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier approved a proposal to reduce social distancing in public transport vehicles from the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 1 meter to 0.3 meters by the end of September.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said the reduced social distancing will begin on Monday, September 14.

The vice president also renewed her call for service contracting in the public transportation sector during the pandemic.

“Bayaran sila (drivers), hindi nakabase sa ilang pasahero ang nakasakay. Kasi kapag nakabase sa ilang pasahero ang nakasakay, parating maghahabol ng boundary iyon. Sana service contracting, para mas madali ma-impose iyong social distancing,” Robredo explained.

The Philippines logged 261,216 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon, still the highest across Southeast Asia. — DVM, GMA News