PNP-HPG flags down jeepneys foregoing 1-meter distancing

Several jeepney drivers were flagged down by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group on Monday for failure to implement the one-meter physical distancing inside their public utility vehicles.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “Unang Balita,” the jeepney drivers said they were confused on whether to follow the 50% capacity limit or the one-meter physical distancing.

The drivers, however, were not ticketed, but were given a warning instead.

PNP-HPG National Capital Region director Police Colonel Wilson Doromal said they will issue tickets the next time jeepney drivers will be caught foregoing the one-meter distancing rule.

Meanwhile, the drivers said they are mulling on temporarily halting operations as their income will drop significantly due to the few passengers allowed.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that President Rodrigo Duterte said the one-meter physical distancing in public transportation will remain.

The Department of Transportation, which issued an advisory on reduced physical distancing, meanwhile, said it will comply with the chief executive’s directive.

In an interview with Balitanghali, Ariel Inton, president of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, urged the government to “harmonize” the 50% capacity limit and the one-meter social distancing rule in public transport.

“Kapag ipapatupad mo sa jeep ‘yong one-meter social distance, hindi na aabot ng 50% ‘yon. Siguro ilan lang ang mga pasahero noon, marami na siguro ang lima o anim dahil isang metro eh,” Inton said.

“‘Yon siguro ang linawin. Let’s do away with the 50% na passenger capacity and strictly implement the one-meter social distance or ‘yong 50% okay 'yan but with additional safety health protocols katulad noong ginagawang example sa eroplano, may health filter,” he added.

Inton also said there should be more PUVs available to aid commuters and to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“‘Yong mga pinapababa kasi (dahil hindi naipatupad and one-meter social distancing), ilan silang pinababa tapos dikit-dikit din sila sa kalye dahil pinababa mo eh,” he said.

“Wala naman masasakyan so ’yon ang mga sinasabi natin na ‘yong implementasyon sala sa lamig, sala sa init kaya ang mga pasahero nagiging kawawa,” he added.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases had approved the proposal pushed by the Economic Development Cluster and the DOTr to increase ridership in public transportation by “optimizing” or reducing the physical distance between commuters.

The one-meter physical distancing in public transportation was reduced to 0.75 meter last week. Tugade said this would be further reduced to 0.5 meter after two weeks, then 0.3 meter after another two weeks.

Medical experts and a research team from the University of the Philippines, however, opposed the reduced physical distancing, saying it may lead to more cases of COVID-19.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/AOL, GMA News