Domestic flights resume
BY VICTOR REYES and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
THE government has addressed public transportation woes that set back Metro Manila’s transition to general community quarantine (GCQ) on Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, however, admitted that the police force still monitored many stranded commuters due to limited public transportation modes.
“The situation today (Tuesday) is much better than yesterday (Monday). There is an improvement when it comes to traffic build-up and congestion we faced yesterday,” said Banac.
Banac said traffic slow-down was primarily due to policemen trying their best to check for possible motorists and commuters who do not belong to the Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) but went out of their homes for non-essential trips.
Traffic was also caused by more private vehicles on the streets after workers in essential industries were allowed to return to work two months after strict quarantines were imposed in several provinces and cities in the country last March.
Banac said policemen loosened checking at checkpoints, leading to faster movement of vehicles.
“Our quarantine control points loosened (the checking), thus there is better traffic flow…. There is improvement as we allowed faster passage of vehicles,” he said.
Banac said motorists might have also identified less congested thoroughfares to pass through. “The motorists may have made their own adjustments and passed through areas where there is less traffic congestion,” he said.
Banac said the plight of the commuting public has to be addressed by various government agencies through free rides. He said the PNP did its share by deploying a number of vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said it has lifted some travel restrictions within Metro Manila and within provinces under GCQ and modified GCQ for locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) and indispensable travels like medical and family emergencies.
JTF COVID Shield chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said travel authority from the PNP will no longer be required from LSIs who wish to go home and those who need to go on medical travel and attend to family emergencies.
“Since we are now implementing general community quarantine and modified GCQ and also indispensable travels are similar to the case of the LSIs, then travels within National Capital Region and within the province shall be permitted without the travel authority,” said Eleazar.
But he said travel authority will still be required if the travels are outside Metro Manila and outside the provinces. The travel passes can be obtained from district police commanders.
He said those in the province who are travelling to another province but within the region, the travel authority is issued by chiefs of police.
Eleazar said travels that require crossing the border of two regions require the authority of the provincial director.
leeway
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reminded employers and owners of establishments in GCQ areas to limit their work force to 50 percent amid the limited availability of public transportation.
Tugade and Roque made separate calls following Monday’s traffic and transportation nightmare when Metro Manila shifted to GCQ from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“The Duterte administration is making an appeal. Please employers, do not ask all of your employees to physically return to work; let us follow, limit the workforce to 50 percent if possible),” Tugade said, as he urged employers to use different work schemes, like making 50 percent of their employees work from home, availing of flexible time or a four-day work week.
He also reminded employers that they should provide shuttles or modes of transportation for their workers if they resume operations.
Roque echoed Tugade’s appeal saying that even government offices are only operating at 50 percent capacity.
“In government, the Civil Service Commission issued a resolution saying while we are 100 percent back to work, only 50-50 is allowed. We hope the private sector would do the same because at present less than 50 percent of the public transportation is operating,” Roque said.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
Tugade said domestic flights may now resume in areas under GCQ but it would still be subject to the approval of concerned local government units (LGUs).
He said National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. had issued a memorandum to the Civil Aviation Board (CAB) allowing the resumption of domestic commercial aviation but subject to “the approval and conformity of local government” and it would not be used for leisure.
He said LGUs shall come up with their respective guidelines in accordance with health protocols imposed by the government.
“Whatever the protocol which the local government will implement, it will be discussed and agreed, such as passengers and airplanes departure and arrival and going out from the airport terminals,” he said.
The Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia said they would gradually resume operations this month following the easing of community quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and several parts of the country.
Tugade acknowledged the challenges faced by the aviation industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The future of the aviation industry, one word: dicey… Around the world, there are many airlines now declaring bankruptcy. But we are mandated locally that we protect and help assure the continued viability and operations of our own local aviation partners,” he said.
CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said domestic flight operations will resume for non-leisure travel in key markets and in limited capacity, but the market is expected to expand in time as the government continues to ease up travel restrictions and as consumer confidence grows.
Arcilla said domestic and international flights are set to begin in the first week of June 2020 in airports in areas under GCQ.
“We hope to see not only the resumption of flights in selected routes but also more flights in the coming weeks all in accordance with the guidelines and directives of the IATF, DOTr and LGUs, taking into consideration the primordial need to protect the safety and health of the riding public,” he said.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told the Laging Handa public briefing that the flag carrier’s initial destinations approved by the IATF include the cities of Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro.
PAL’s first flight departure at the start of the GCQ was PR 104 bound for San Francisco, California carrying US nationals, foreign tourists, and holders of United States permanent residency.
She said passengers should be at the airport’s departure lounge a minimum of three hours before their flight schedule for domestic passengers and at least four hours for those bound for foreign destinations.
The airline official said the heightened security and health procedures mean there will be a longer processing time before passengers can board the aircraft and before the plane actually takes off.
Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Logarta-Lagamon said the same three-hour period before departure is recommended for their domestic flights.
“The consequence of putting up additional safety measures is a longer boring process as we insist on compliance with physical distancing. Check-in and boarding will take longer so passengers would be well-advised to arrive three hours before their flights to local destinations,” she said.
“Face masks must stay on during the flight so we will no longer serve snacks and refreshment on board. Of course, bottled water may be made available upon request,” she added.
Both airlines assured the public that extra care is being made to ensure a higher level of health protection for air travelers.
PAL said its aircrafts are subjected to intensive disinfection using eco-friendly disinfectant after each and every flight both domestic and international.
The safety measures do not stop at ground level. — With Noel Talacay and Peter Tabingo