THE Joint Task Force (JTF) Covid Shield encouraged on Monday, May 18, private companies to provide transportation services to their employees as they resume operations under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF Covid Shield commander and Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations, said companies that cannot provide shuttle services to their employees should not operate yet.

"Sa modified ECQ, walang public transport at kung sa tingin noong mga establisyimiyento na allowed eh puwede sila mag-operate base sa skeleton force, so be it," Eleazar said.

"Ngayon kung itong mga empleyado ay di nila kayang bigyan ng shuttle eh hindi sila dapat mag-operate... Para sa mga worker, kung hindi kayo mabibigyan ng transportation ng management ng iyong kumpanya, ibig sabihin eh di kayo ganoon ka-essential at di kayo dapat mag-operate," he added.

The National Capital Region, or Metro Manila, as well as Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga including Angeles City, Zambales, and Laguna shifted to MECQ on May 16.

Under the MECQ, non-essential but non-leisure businesses are allowed to operate with 50 percent workforce. But public transport systems remain suspended. (SunStar Philippines)