AN OFFICIAL of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao has urged drivers and operators of public transport to observe social distancing as a measure to fight the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) or else face penalty.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao director Aminoden Guro said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a guideline over the weekend pertaining to the adjustment of seating capacity of public utility vehicles and was put in effect in the region on Monday, March 16.
Guro said for jeepneys and buses, the capacity should be reduced to half.
“For example, kung 20 ang capacity sa jeep i-reduce og 50 percent so 10 na lang. Kung ang bus 50 persons 25 na lang para at least naay distance,”Guro said.
For taxi, there should only be three passengers--one in front and two on the backseat.
He said UV express van should only have six passengers including the driver.
Guro said operators will face penalty if their drivers refuse to observe social distancing. Passengers may also report defiant drivers to the LTFRB-10.
He said operators will pay P5,000 for first offense, P10,000 for second offense and P15,000 and one month suspension of franchise for the third offense.
Plea for operators
The LTFRB-Northern Mindanao also urged operators to reduce the boundary of their drivers because of this adjusted set-up.
“Atong appeal sa mga operator nga kung mahimo gamayan lang sad ang abang sa mga drivers kay dili man normal ang sakay karon,” Guro said.
On the other hand, Guro also admitted there is a reduction of bus trips going to Iligan, Bukidnon and Butuan.
“Gani naay uban transport group nag-file og request for temporary suspension like kanang diha sa Laguingindan airport,” Guro said.