Commuter blows whistle about standing passengers inside bus

A commuter expressed frustration after riding a public utility bus which has standing passengers despite the government's directive to limit the capacity to 50%.

A report by Joseph Morong over "24 Oras" quoted Portia Chua Marin's account inside a bus from Cavite to Lawton in Manila, where she said several passengers hardly practiced social distancing.

Even as all passengers wore masks and face shields, Marin felt it was still risky for them to stand close to each other inside a vehicle.

"Natakot ako tapos nadismaya ako kasi nga ang taas ng pasahe tapos siksikan pa kami so anong purpose ng pagtaas ng pasahe," said Martin.

(I was scared and I was also mad because the fare is high and we are all not practicing social distancing so what is the purpose of increasing the bus fare.)

She disclosed that from P35 minimum fare before the pandemic, the fare is now raised to P60.

Like Marin, other bus passengers are also worried about their health when riding buses overloaded with passengers.

A commuter said he would rather ride another bus going to another route instead of staying inside the bus full of passengers.

Another commuter said she would prioritize her health especially during a health crisis.

The  Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that it will propose a 100% passenger capacity in public utility vehicles in Metro Manila to the Inter-Agency Task for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News