The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is ensuring that authorized persons outside of their residences (APOR) and health workers will still be able to perform their jobs amid the Covid-19 pandemic by providing them with free rides.
Transportation Secretary Tugade is urging public transport drivers to join the government's service contracting program
AS PART of the government program under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act initiated by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade that aims to provide additional income to public utility vehicle drivers in exchange for services to help passengers amid the pandemic, the first free rides along EDSA busway under the service contracting program of the DOTr was launched today.
Healthcare workers (HCW) and authorized persons outside of their residences (APOR) are the main beneficiaries of the program as they can ride the buses for free until the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal is lifted.
Last March 30, DOTr launched free rides in Modern Public Utility Jeepneys (MPUJ) along 44 routes to service medical frontliners and APORs.
DOTr is constantly working to include more jeepney routes and as of posting, there are already 51 routes available for free jeepney rides.
The operational hours of the free jeepney rides start at 4 am until 10 pm, while the EDSA bus rides will be available 24/7.
The list of official APORs is on this link: http://bit.ly/TalaNgMgaAPOR , while the full list of the jeepney routes can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/51jeepneyroutes
DOTr is asking passengers to download the Sakay.ph where passengers can monitor the free bus or jeepney rides in real-time as well as leave a rating and feedback for driver incentives.
The project is in partnership with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that is implementing the “7 commandments” in public transportation:
1. Magsuot ng face mask at face shield;
2. Bawal ang pagsasalita, pakikipag-usap o pagsagot ng telepono;
3. Bawal kumain;
4. Kailangang may sapat na ventilation;
5. Kailangang may frequent disinfection;
6. Bawal magsakay ng symptomatic passenger;
7. Kinakailangang sumunod sa appropriate physical distancing
Transportation Secretary Tugade is urging public transport drivers to join the government's service contracting program. (HD)
Tags: #DepartmentOfTransportation, #freerides, #Covid19