Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade justified in the budget hearing of the DOTr that the controversial easing of physical distancing among public transportation passengers is based on study and not an impulsive move.
“The decision to reduce social distancing is not a product of knee jerk reaction but a product of research and a product of simulation which we have done… There were other countries that have reduced their physical distancing from 1 meter and downwards,” Tugade stated.
Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo claimed the change in protocol is ineffective. Instead, more means of public transportation should be added since around 1.7 million passengers will still face the burden of commuting despite the distance reduction.
“Sa tingin ko kailangan pa natin pag-isipan ano pa ang pwede nating gawin. Sa totoo lang sa pagkakaalam ko, and please confirm, na ang total number of jeeps is about 55,000. So pwede pa talaga nating i-increase ang namamasadang jeep (We should think of other ways. What I know is, and please confirm, the total number of jeepneys is about 55,000. We can still increase the number of plying jeepneys),” Quimbo proposed.
“For UV Express at sa (and) PhilCab, pwedeng (we can have) additional one passenger as well. And based on our computation, we can have an additional 1,647,930 passengers to bridge the gap on the alleged lack of supply of PUVs,” DOTr ASec. Steve Pastor responded.
The DOTr also clarified that the distribution of cash aid is not its function amid the issue of its response to displaced jeepney drivers. It added that it is only in charge of the preparation of list of beneficiaries to be submitted to the DSWD.
Meanwhile, LTFRB Chairperson Martin Delgra reported that only 209,000 beneficiaries received assistance from the government out of the initial 435,000 listed after cross-checking was conducted.
– Report from Daniel Manalastas
