ALL public utility vehicles (PUV) plying the areas in Cebu that were escalated to Alert Level 3 will still have 70 percent as their maximum passenger capacity, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Visayas Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. told SunStar Cebu Thursday, January 13, 2022.
On Wednesday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases placed Cebu City and Mandaue City, along with 26 other areas in the country, under Alert Level 3 due to the increase in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in these areas.
Earlier, Lapu-Lapu City had also been placed on Alert Level 3 status from January 9 to 15.
Montealto said the decision to reduce the capacity of public transport lies with the chief executives of the local government units in the absence of a memorandum from the LTFRB's Central Office.
Montealto said even in Metro Manila, which is also under Alert Level 3, PUVs are still operating under the 70 percent maximum capacity.
Despite the status quo, Montealto acknowledged that there is still a shortage of public transport options in Metro Cebu since there are some drivers who did not return to the roads after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai) last Dec. 16.
Montealto said only 60 percent of around 800 modern jeepneys are currently operating because most of their drivers are still busy repairing their houses that were damaged by the typhoon.
Montealto urged private companies to hire private tourist buses to compensate for the lack of public transport and to help their employees from the struggles of commuting.
Montealto added that it would take another month for the situation to return to normal.
The regional director said they are strictly implementing the maximum capacity and have been conduction apprehensions daily since last week.