PH Government implements ‘total ban’ on public transportation within Luzon

Commuters are now forced to stay home more.

It’s official: The Philippine government has now announced a total ban on all forms of public transportation to fight the spread of COVID-19 within the island of Luzon.

Commuters in Metro Manila may soon be forced to stay at home after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it is considering a total ban on public transportation for the duration of the community quarantine in Metro Manila.

This is part of an ‘enhanced quarantine’ on the whole of Luzon—a measure that also limits households to 24/7 home quarantine, and strictly regulates provisions for food and essential healthcare services.

This means no rail lines, public utility buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, and so on. Even Grab rides are no longer allowed. A heightened presence of uniformed personnel will be on the ground to enforce the enhanced quarantine.

The ban is effective on March 17 at midnight and will last until April 13 at midnight. The period of enhanced quarantine is subject to daily evaluation by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). As such, its duration may be shortened if the IATF-EID sees fit.

Private vehicles are allowed on the streets provided only one occupant is inside and is heading out to buy necessities, or is visiting exempted establishments like supermarkets, banks, hospitals, convenience stores, pharmacies, and the like. Individuals like healthcare workers, government personnel, uniformed personnel transporting supplies or humanitarian assistance, or media with ID cards from the Presidential Communications Operations Office are also exempted.

On Saturday, the DOTr released its guidelines on social distancing and community quarantine on the entire public transport sector.

The news comes on the evening of the first weekday of Metro Manila’s quarantine period.

This article is written up in support to spread awareness for COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

Read More: COVID latest, COVID updates, COVID US, virus, coronavirus, health, disease, quarantine, ncov, COVID-19