BY NOEL TALACAY
NO talking.
This was the new policy enforced by the Metro Rail Transit Line (MRT-3) management yesterday as it resumed limited operations of the rail transit following a six-day shutdown due to high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections among its personnel.
MTR-3 operation manager Michael Capati said the “No Talking” policy is among the stringent health protocols that the management is implementing as a strategy against the spread of the highly-infectious coronavirus.
Under the policy, the management discourages passengers from answering phone calls and talking to each other while inside the trains.
Capati said people remove their facemasks when they are on the phone.
“The respiratory droplets from talking might be the cause of spreading the virus. That is why we are strongly advising our passengers to wear facemasks all the time,” Capati said.
Capati said, though, there will be no sanctions against passengers who will answer their phones or converse with each other. Their attentions will simply be called out by MRT marshalls who are deployed inside the trains.
Aside from the new policy, Capati said passengers will now be required to fill out health declaration forms for the purpose of contract tracing.
On the health declaration form, the commuters will be asked to provide their full name, address, contact number, station entry, date and time, body temperature, and if they are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms.
He said the form will be distributed while the passengers are waiting in line, before the conduct of full-body checks and enter the turnstile area inside the station.
He assured the commuters that MRT-3 management will keep their information confidential.
Capati said 13 CKD and one Dalian train went operational yesterday.
The MRT-3 stopped operations for six days last week after 281 of its personnel got infected with COVID-19. Results of the mass testing conducted among all of its personnel while the rail system was suspended showed 1,093 MRT-3 depot personnel and 1,010 station personnel testing negative of the virus.
NEW BARRIER DESIGN
THE National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 has approved a second motorcycle barrier design among back-riding couples as the country continues to ease health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second design, proposed by motorcycle taxi platform Angkas, is similar to a backpack worn with a hard plastic and strapped on the driver.
The first barrier design, which was proposed by Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap, is made of metal frame with plastic cover attached to the motorcycle. The design was approved last week when the NTF gave the green light for back-riding couples living in the same house.
Defense Secretary and task force chief Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said: “Effective immediately, the above barriers between motorcycle driver and passengers are hereby approved,” he said.
He reiterated that motorcycle back-riding will remain limited among husbands and wives, common-law couples and live-in partners. They have to present identification cards to law enforcers in case they are flagged down by law enforcers.
“Back riding will be strictly for husbands and wives, common law couple and live-in partners. Barriers are mandatory for everyone,” he said.
On whether motorcycle back-riding among relatives living in the same house would also be allowed, Lorenzana said: “Dapat lang (It should be) but I’ll get back to you.”
Interior Secretary and task force vice chairman Eduardo Año said the two designs will ensure physical distancing between the rider and his/her passenger.
“This second approved design is somehow simpler as it will only be strapped to the motorcycle driver and not mounted directly on the motorcycle itself, unlike the first design,” said Año.
“Ito pong motorcycle barriers or shield, physical distancing at iba pang hakbang laban sa COVID-19 ay subok na at napag-aralan (These motorcycle barriers or shield, physical distancing and other measures against COVID-19 are proven and studied). We urge the people to practice discipline and cooperate with the government as we collectively battle this virus,” said Año.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the NTF to do a thorough and scientific study of health and safety protocols that will protect motorcycle drivers, back-riders, and the general public.
“I urge the IATF and NTF COVID-19 to thoroughly and scientifically study various designs for back-riding. Huwag madaliin dahil kailangang pag-aralan ng mabuti ito, lalo na dahil buhay ng mga kababayan natin ang nakataya dito (Let us not rush because this needs further study especially since lives are at stake here),” Go said.
Go, Senate committee on health chair, emphasized that approved designs that will be required in back-riding must be based on scientific studies to ensure that these devices or installations will prevent the spread of COVID-19 and, at the same time, ensure the safety of riders and the general public.
Former Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, who is a motorcycle rider himself, said the use of protective barriers between the driver and passenger is unnecessary especially if both are married couples living under one roof. — With Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
