BY NOEL TALACAY
SENIOR citizens and children below 18 years old in the National Capital Region (NCR) are now allowed to ride in public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and buses following the easing of the COVID-19 alert level in the region, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.
MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has permitted minors and the elderly to ride in public utility vehicles.
Abalos’ statement is contrary to the statement of Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary and Inter-Agency Council on Traffic chief Manuel Gonzales that minors are still barred from riding public transport even with an adult due to the absence of guidelines permitting them to do so.
“Pwede na pong lumabas ang mga bata at matatanda, ito’y ayon sa IATF. Sa pagsakay ng mga pampublikong sasakyan ay pwede rin po silang sumakay (The children and elderly are now allowed to go out according to the IATF. They are also allowed to ride in public transport),” Abalos said.
“Ang sabi sa akin ni (DOTr) Undersecretary Steve Pastor, nagkaroon lamang ng miscommunication sa IACT pero pwede raw ang mga matatanda at bata sa public transportation (DOTr Usec. Steve Pastor told me there was a miscommunication with IACT.
He said the elderly and children are allowed in public transportation.) But it’s clear: children and the elderly are allowed in public transports,” he stressed.
The MMDA chief said he had to make the clarification to avoid confusion among commuters and traffic authorities.
Abalos also said there are no more age restrictions on interzonal and intrazonal travel under IATF rules.
President Duterte has placed Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 from November 5 until 21.
Under the alert level, more business establishments are allowed to operate at higher capacity, while malls can extend their operating hours in anticipation of the influx of shoppers for the holiday season.
Passenger capacity for selected public utility vehicles (PUVs) and rail lines operating in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces have also been increased to 70 percent beginning November 4.
Likewise, children and the elderly have been allowed to visit indoor establishments such as malls and churches as long as they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
Staycation under Alert Level 2 is also allowed for all ages.
Abalos said the 17 Metro mayors were set to meet Sunday night to discuss policies and guidelines on the possible implementation of face-to-face classes in the NCR.
“We are now allowing our children go out from our houses and vaccination against COVID-19 for children will soon be expanded nationwide. Next to this is physical learning,” he said.
VIOLATORS
The PNP said over 19,000 quarantine violators were accosted by the police on Friday and Saturday during the first two days of the implementation of Metro Manila’s new alert level.
In a monitoring report, the PNP said there were 9,451 violators who were caught last Friday – 8,458 for violation of minimum public health standards (MPHS) and 993 for curfew.
Meanwhile, 9,636 violators were accosted on Saturday – 8,766 for MPHS violation and 870 for curfew violation.
The total number of Alert Level 2 violators caught over the weekend was 19,087.
Of the 19,087 caught on Friday and Saturday, 6,416 (68 percent) were merely warned, 2,795 (30 percent) were fined, and 240 (three percent) were brought to police stations for filing of charges.
The average number of violators accosted under Alert Level 2 was at 9,544 per day, lower than the 9,746 daily average of violators caught during the implementation of Alert Level 3 in NCR from October 16 to November 4.
The PNP said 194,929 violators were accosted when the NCR was under Alert Level 3 – 148,161 for MPHS violation, 45,809 for curfew violation, and 959 non-Authorized Persons Outside Residence. Of the violators,
It said 118,028 (61 percent) were warned, 63,752 (33 percent) were fined, and 13,149 (seven percent) were brought to police for filing of charges.
The alert level system of quarantine is being implemented in the NCR and select provinces and cities while areas where there are known COVID-19 cases are placed on granular lockdown.
The PNP said 35 areas in Metro Manila are under granular lockdown as of Saturday, affecting 208 households, which is composed of 632 individuals. These areas are manned by 130 policemen and 106 force multipliers or barangay personnel. — With Victor Reyes
