Manila’s public transportation is set to resume in a few days — at least partially. Here’s what you can expect concerning jeepneys, buses, trains, and tricycles.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here: general community quarantine (GCQ). The two and a half month lockdown has got everyone excited for more lenient structure. Of course, things haven’t gone totally according to plan — it’s far too early to think we can get away with how we used to be. Nevertheless, the government is taking steps to reopen Manila. Many of these measures have had to do with deciding which industries are safe to open up; yet one big question remains: what about public transportation? Despite monstrous traffic jams that seem to point otherwise, not everyone in Manila has a private car. Many rely on public transportation to get around so we ask: “how does that fit into the GCQ equation?”
Well, just today, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) released a memo on their website regarding regulations on just that.
Read also: Here Are The Malls Open During Metro Manila’s Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)
New Measures
The memo begins with general reminders for areas about to shift into GCQ. Sanitary measures include:
- Mandatory wearing of face masks at all times
- New implementation of no-contact measures. These include cashless payments whenever possible
- Use of new technology such as thermal scanners and disinfection of high-touch public surfaces
- Availability of alcohol and sanitisers in public utility vehicles (PUVs)
- An establishment of disinfection facilities within public terminals
- Observance of 1 metre social distancing in all PUVs and mass transport units
Furthermore, the DOTr encourages the use of private shuttles for students and employees. Non-motorised transport such as bicycles are also being promoted for use. The DOTr has further adopted a designated bike lane and bus lanes along EDSA.
Cashless System
On their website, the DOTr mentioned switching to a cashless system to minimise physical contact. Although the memo lacked more specific guidelines, the DOTr does mention that they will utilise a system called the automatic fare collection system (AFCS), alongside electronic toll collection. For those with private vehicles, online transactions will also be promoted on the occasions of licensing and registration.
For modes of transport for which the AFCS willl be unavailable, DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon, Jr says that passengers will be required to pay the driver before boarding the vehicle.
Furthermore, new technology will use the GNSS/GPS system. These systems will help monitor fleets of vehicles being used by the public. This technology will enable commuters to track the location of the buses to be able to plan their travel and avoid wasting time. For operators and government regulators, the GNSS/GPS system will allow for tracking of driver behaviour as well as monitoring of statistics with regard to buses on the road.