Mass transport suspended under enhanced community quarantine

MANILA: The entire mass transport system in Luzon is suspended from March 17 to April 12. This suspension is in line with the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte placing the entire Luzon under “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

President Duterte placed Luzon under ECQ because of reports that the social distancing measure was routinely defeated. Commuters still had to go through crowds and long lines to reach their workplaces.

During the Malacañang press conference on Monday evening, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles emphasized that this mass-transport suspension will include transport network vehicle services (TNVs); in addition to the LRT, MRT, and PNR trains; taxis, jeeps, and public utility buses, among others.

There will also be restrictions in terms of cargo movement aside from the suspension of public transportation on land, domestic sea, and domestic air travel in Luzon. Exempted from these restrictions are those who are bringing laboratory specimens that are Covid-19 related, medical supplies, and uniformed personnel who are traveling for official business and humanitarian services.

Outbound international passengers who are traveling from any area in Luzon may leave the Philippines within 72 hours only from the start of the ECQ.

Nograles also stated that the reason behind this massive transport suspension is for everyone to stay at home.

There will still be checkpoints for private vehicles, and both drivers and passengers need to show the necessary documents and company IDs, signifying that they are working in Metro Manila. This protocol is applicable for government and health workers since private businesses are highly encouraged to allow their employees to work from home.

A curfew will still be implemented from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for all citizens. However, the ECQ exempts local government officers, media personnel, peace and order officer, health workers, and call center agents with valid IDs.

Based on the memorandum which Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed on Monday, the ECQ requires the public to stay in their homes unless they urgently need to purchase necessities.

All private establishments, such as malls, shall be closed. Restaurants are permitted to provide delivery and takeout services only. Dine-in customers shall not be allowed.

The ECQ also exempts the telecommunications supplies and facilities, water, energy, and power facilities, money transfer services, banks, medicine, and food production businesses. They are allowed to operate, given that they maintain stringent social distancing measures. Food products and medical supplies are allowed to enter the metro and the nearby provinces via trucks.

Because of limitations in movement, the memorandum also indicates that the executive branch of the government shall implement a “work from home” system. This will not include members of the Philippine Coast Guard, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP), border control as well as critical services, and the emergency and health frontline services.

Due to the mass transport suspension, local government units (LGUs) are expected to offer transport services for health workers who do not own private vehicles.

The non-operation of trains, buses, jeeps, and other public transport vehicles is expected to help reduce the risk of spreading and contracting Covid-19.

Nograles also stated that the government is responsible for ensuring that affected employees will obtain immediate assistance for small, micro, and medium-scale businesses. They will also provide extensions in terms of utility bills, advance pro-rated 13^th-month pay, and temporary payment suspensions on lease rentals.