DOTr Anticipates Surge as Face-to-face Classes Resume

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expecting a surge in passenger demand as some schools and universities return to face-to-face (F2F) classes. With this Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has urged various transport officials to extend a number of land transport programs. Among these include the Service Contracting Program (SCP) and Libreng Sakay Program. The DOTr, likewise, hopes to expedite the rationalization of public transport routes to improve mobility.

Additionally, Secretary Bautista has called for the immediate disbursement of the ₱1,000 fuel subsidy to qualified beneficiaries. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) already has a consolidated list consisting of around 617,806 tricycle drivers. Other measures of the DOTr include the deployment of 550 buses in the EDSA Busway during rush hours and the provision of equity subsidy for the acquisition of modern public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The transportation chief will also be meeting with the bus consortium operating the EDSA Carousel route to guarantee that the buses will be enough to accommodate the projected passenger demand. Various government agencies will also be present at the meeting. “We will coordinate our actions with concerned agencies such as the DepEd, CHED, MMDA, LTO, LTFRB, PNP, AFP-NCR, DILG, IACT and others not under the DOTr,” explained Bautista.

“We are also looking at accelerating the grant of franchise instead of just permits for buses on critical routes used by students such as Katipunan, Commonwealth, Recto Avenue,” added the transportation secretary. F2F classes are being resumed amidst the ongoing global pandemic. Despite this, studies —  conducted during the height of COVID-19 — suggest that transmission in public transport will most likely be low. Of course, commuters should still practice proper health and safety measures.

Source: Manila Bulletin