Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque ensured that concerned agencies will continue to strengthen the response to the transportation problem in Metro Manila amid the General Community Quarantine.
“Ang DOTR naman po ay tumugon at nag-authorize ng mga pribadong bus at lumarga po sa dalawang ruta. Yung galing po sa Angat papuntang EDSA, at saka ‘yung galing po sa Dasmarinas papunta rin ng EDSA. Nagbigay po ng libreng sakay ang MMDA, nagbigay po ng libreng sakay ang Hukbong Sandatahan. So hindi po natin kagustuhan na ma-inconvenience ang ating mga mananakay pero binibigyan po natin ng priority yung social distancing. (The DOTr has responded and authorized private buses to take two routes. From Angat to EDSA, and those from Dasmariñas going to EDSA. The MMDA and Armed Forces have also provided free rides. So we do not want to inconvenience our commuters but we are giving priority to social distancing.)”
Pres. Spokesperson Roque stated that there is no need for a “commuter challenge” since the government feels the hardship of the people from the start.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will have a meeting that aims to improve the policy of the government against the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
-Mela Lesmoras
