Reducing physical distancing in public transport starts today

September 14, 2020

Mixed reactions greeted the first day of the Department of Transportation's eased  physical distancing in public transport on Monday.

Instead of the usual one-meter distance between passengers, the distance has been cut to  0.75 cm to allow more people to commute to work. After two weeks, the distance will be reduced to 0.50 cm after study by authorities.

The DOTr insists that commuters must wear face shield and face mask when using public transport.

''We have to be careful ( in deciding to  reduce the distance) because this can spark new cases,'' said Benjamin Co, an infectious disease specialist, in an interview at dzBB.

Tony Leachon, a former member of the National Task Force, said in his Twitter post that ''this will be risky, reckless and counter-intuitive and will derail the flattening of the curve.''

Metro Manila mayors said they were not consulted when the decision was made but Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they will '' revisit'' every two weeks if distancing in public transport will be reduced.

''We told them that we were not consulted,'' said Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, chairman of the Metro Manila Council, in a radio interview.

Local chief executives met eight Cabinet secretaries who are members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Diseases in  a  Zoom meeting Sunday night, said Olivarez.

"Secretary Duque said they will revisit. They will look at the effects of .75 cm (distancing). We cannot sacrifice health protocols just to open the economy,'' said Olivarez.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it '' enjoins all Filipinos to be vigilant in situations where distancing cannot be practiced and if possible, choose to participate in activities or use transport options that can afford at least one meter distancing.''

Assistant Transport Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said that DOTr will monitor the situation closely. '' If cases (of COVID-19), rise, we will cease implementing this,'' she said in a radio interview.

Under reduced distancing, 204 more commuters will be added to a train set at the MRT-3 line. This is higher than the 153 maximum passenger capacity, the DOTr said. DMS