THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is pushing for cashless transactions in taxis and transport network vehicle services to reduce the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Taxis and TNVS providers are allowed to resume operations in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) provided that physical distancing is observed.
During the government’s Laging Handa online briefing Monday, May 18, LTFRB Chairperson Martin B. Delgra III said a meeting was held Sunday between transport network companies and electronic payment system providers such as GCash and Paymaya.
“Sinusulong na rin po natin ‘yung cashless transaction for taxis and TNVS. Alam po natin na sa TNVS karamihan diyan ang bayad po nila is cashless. At ganoon na rin po sa taxi,” Delgra said.
To implement physical distancing, only three passengers per taxi or TNVS are allowed and a plastic, transparent barrier should be installed between the driver and passenger seated in front.
“Unang-una kailangan masunod ‘yung social distancing so hindi po puwedeng lagpas ng tatlong tao ang puwedeng sumakay. Kailangan po mayroon ‘nung barrier na maghihiwalay sa driver at passenger. Kailangan ‘yung barrier na ‘yan plastic at transparent,” Delgra said.
Buses and modern jeepneys are also allowed to operate in GCQ areas since these could carry several passengers even with physical distancing.
“Yung mga bus po we have encouraged them to go cashless po that is our mandate, ito pong programa na ito, hindi po ito bago, even before this pandemic came into our lives isuinusulong na po natin ito ngayon laging naging urgent ang pangagailangan to go cashless,” Delgra said.
The official also said that LTFRB has directed public transportation vehicles to list the name and contact number of their passengers for faster contact tracing.
“Unang-una po sa bus, minandato po natin na mayroon silang manifesto ng kanilang pasahero, kasama ang pangalan, contact number,” Delgra said.
“On the part of the passenger, we are requesting them and appealing to them na isulat ang kanilang mga nasakyan na pampublikong sasakyan just in case mayroon pong balita na may isang tao pong nagpositibo sa bus na sinakyan nila--madali lang po silang i-trace,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)