Solon Calls for Resumption of Provincial Bus, Metro Transport Operations

 Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel 'Mikey' Arroyo expressed support for the resumption of provincial bus operations to and from Metro Manila and all other public transportation routes in the National Capital Region (NCR) which has yet to be cleared for operations, saying this is a necessary step to rebooting the country’s slowed-down economy.

This, however, the solon clarified, has to be done without prejudice to the protocols set forth by Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Department of Health (DOH).

"There are emerging proposals for the resumptions of operations for provincial buses plying routes to and from Metro Manila and all other public transportation their routes here in NCR. I am 100-percent fully supportive of this," said Arroyo.

Last week, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III bared they were seriously considering the resumption of the provincial bus services with 81 provinces nationwide, with at least three agreeing to accommodate cross-border travel from Metro Manila--Antique, Quirino and Bataan.

"While the entire planet had been greatly affected by this pandemic, we have to laud our government, especially the IATF-EID for ensuring that our economy is still rolling despite the health protocols that were put in place," he added.

But while the IATF-EID has exempted the delivery of goods since Day 1 of the different levels of community quarantine the government has put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), Arroyo said the rule on public transportation now has to be relaxed.

"Like commodities, people also have to move. Products and services go hand in hand. So, there is really a need to resume the operations of the provincial transportation, and other public transportation routes in Metro Manila which have yet to be cleared," Arroyo stressed.

While the program 'Balik-Probinsya' which was initiated by Senator Christopher 'Bong' Go solved the problems of locally stranded individuals, Arroyo said provincial transportation has to be given the green light now to allow more people to return back to work.

"But of course, relaxing the rules on provincial transportation should be in strict compliance to the protocols to be set forth by the IATF-EID and the DOH as they have the experts on infectious diseases who could give expert opinions and advices, unlike ordinary people like you and me, who don't have any expertise in dealing with such matters," Arroyo clarified.