Guidelines for Local Government Units on the Regulation of Public Transportation in Areas under General Community Quarantine and Interzonal Transportation

May 18, 2020

DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2020-083

 

1. Background

1. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), issued Resolution No. 28, series of 2020 on April 23, 2020 which lays down the recommendations relative to the management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation. Said issuance extended the Enhanced Community Quarantine in high-risk areas while also introducing the General Community Quarantine for moderate-risk to low-risk areas.

2. The IATF issued Resolution No. 29, series of 2020 on April 27, 2020 which reiterates the areas that will be under the Enhanced Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) starting May 1-15, 2020 and the transition from the General Community Quarantine of low-risk areas with no deterioration in their risk level from May 16, 2020 onwards.

3. The IATF released, through a press briefing, their Resolution No. 30, series of 2020 on April 30, 2020 which sets forth the Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines.

4. Pursuant to the declaration of GCQ in certain areas, the Department of Transportation released Public Transport Guidelines for areas under GCQ.

2. Purpose

2.1. This Memorandum Circular is issued to inform and guide all Local Government Units (LGUs) in the implementation of measures to regulate public transportation with respect to the imposition of GCQ in the country, and the maintenance of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in select areas.

3. Definition of Terms

3.1. Community Quarantine — refers to the restriction of movement within, into, or out of the area of quarantine of individuals, large groups of people, or communities, designed to reduce the likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 among persons outside the affected area.

3.2. COVID-19 — refers to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 which is caused by the virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2).

3.3. Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) — refers to the implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

3.4. General Community Quarantine (GCQ) — refers to the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

3.5. Health and emergency frontline services — services provided by public health workers, [all employees of the Department of Health (DOH), DOH Hospitals, Hospital of LGUs, and Provincial, City, and Rural Health Units, and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers including those managed by other government agencies (e.g., police and military hospitals/clinics, university medical facilities), uniformed medical personnel], private health workers, such as but not limited to medical professionals, hospital and health facility administrative and maintenance staff, and aides from private health facilities, as well as their service providers, health workers and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross and the World Health Organization, and employees of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), health insurance providers, disaster risk reduction management officers, and public safety officers.

3.6. Minimum public health standards — guidelines set by the DOH, as well as sector-relevant guidelines issued by the government agencies, to aid all sectors in all settings to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), which refer to public health measures that do not involve vaccines, medications, or other pharmaceutical interventions, which individuals and communities can carry out in order to reduce transmission rates, contact rates, and the duration of infectiousness of individuals in the population to mitigate COVID-19.

4. Policy Content and Guidelines

4.1. Pursuant to existing IATF resolutions relative to the placing of medium and low risk areas under GCQ, and ECQ in high risk areas, the Department of Transportation issued guidelines for the public transportation sector to be followed in areas under GCQ. Said guidelines cover public transportation in the following key sectors: road, railway, aviation, and maritime.

4.2. For areas under ECQ, public transportation shall continue to be suspended. Areas under GCQ shall allow for limited transportation subject to the guidelines as enumerated below, and to guidelines that may be imposed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the IATF, and other relevant national agency of the government.

4.3. Operations of Public Transportation (PT) Routes — LGUs shall assist in the implementation of the public transportation routes implemented by the DOTr through the LTFRB. This assistance includes, but not limited, to assignment of public utility vehicle (PUV) stops and terminals, enforcement of physical distancing and sanitary measures in all PT facilities, and assist in the implementation of the PT routes by way of traffic management.

4.4. Guidelines for Public Transportation — LGUs shall ensure that the following guidelines on the operation of public transportation shall be followed, and shall work with the Philippine National Police, and other related government agencies and instrumentalities, in facilitating its implementation.

4.4.1. General Guidelines — For all forms of public transport, the following general guidelines shall be observed:

4.4.1.1. Sanitation and Social Distancing — All public transport vehicles, ports, terminals, and facilities should be regularly disinfected, and social distancing (SD) measures as prescribed by the Department of Health and the IATF, shall, at all times, be practiced. Depending on the transport terminal, the IATF, the DOTr, the DOH, and other relevant agencies may impose specific sanitation measures which shall be followed by the operators of the facility.

4.4.1.2. Passenger Limit — To enable SD, all public utility, and private vehicles shall only ferry at most 50% of their seating capacity. While motorcycles are allowed, the "No Backrider Policy" will be implemented. The railway sector shall be covered by a different set of guidelines prescribed by the DOTr to fully implement social distancing in train cars.

4.4.1.3. Operations of Ports and Terminals — All transport ports and terminals, whether public or private, shall be required to implement the following measures:

4.4.1.3.1. Mandatory checking of body temperature of all commuters at the entrance of the port or terminal, and before boarding the vehicle/vessel;

4.4.1.3.2. Establishment of disinfecting facilities or stations equipped with alcohol and/or soap, foot baths, and or sanitation tents, at all points of ingress and egress; and

4.4.1.3.3. Observance of social distancing measures inside the PUV and the terminal, to include queueing for boarding the vehicle and upon entering the terminal premises.

4.4.1.4. Security Procedures — Security procedures in ports and terminals shall be done through "no contact means" through the use of walkthrough x-rays, portable scanners, handheld metal detectors, and/or other similar equipment. Close contact security measures shall only be applied on exceptional circumstances or situations.

4.4.1.5. Information, Education, and Communication — IEC materials on safety precautions and other health guidelines including proper sanitation, should be visible throughout the various ports and terminals. Alert bulletins should also be made through display systems and public announcement/address.

4.4.2. Special Guidelines

4.4.2.1. Road Sector

4.4.2.1.1. Provincial buses shall not be allowed to stop, pick-up, and drop-off passengers in areas under ECQ.

4.4.2.1.2. Public Utility Jeepneys shall have limited operations subject to the guidelines of the LTFRB.

4.4.2.1.3. Taxis and TNVs shall be allowed to operate following the DOTr guidelines on social distancing and passenger limits.

4.4.2.1.4. TNVs shall not be allowed to have multiple bookings in a single trip.

4.4.2.1.5. Motorcycle Taxis shall be prohibited.

4.4.2.1.6. Tricycles may be allowed to provide feeder transport services subject to operational guidelines, and in no instance may a tricycle ferry more than one (1) passenger at a time.

4.4.2.1.7. Special Permits — The DOTr and the LTFRB shall issue special permits to PUVs allowed to operate during the GCQ; for tricycles and padyaks, the LGU shall issue the same permits.

4.4.2.1.7.1. In the issuance of special permits, priority shall be given to PUVs with higher passenger capacity.

4.4.2.1.8. Augmentation of Transport Services — LGUs are encouraged to provide vehicles for transport services to fill in gaps in the supply of transport to serve the mobility needs of their personnel, and their constituents.

4.4.2.1.8.1. It is highly recommended that transportation for medical frontliners be continuously provided.

4.4.2.1.9. Prioritization of Health and Emergency Frontliners in Public Transport — Priority shall be given to medical frontliners in terms of access to public transportation, which should include free transport services, provision of government transportation, and priority in terminals and in PUVs.

4.4.2.1.10. Contact Tracing — Operators of terminals and PUVs shall adopt contact tracing measures as recommended by the DOH or the IATF. Subsequently, all passengers should be regularly appraised and reminded to keep note of all public transport services they have availed of during the existence of the GCQ.

4.4.2.1.11. Lifting of Number Coding — number coding of public transport vehicles shall be lifted during GCQ. LGUs are advised to refrain from imposing other similar forms of coding scheme that shall defeat the purpose of this provision.

4.4.2.1.12. Enforcement — LGUs are directed to work with the Philippine National Police and other relevant agencies of the National Government in posting enforcers in strategic locations to conduct random spot checking, and enforcing physical distancing. In the implementation of such, the LGU is to ensure the following:

4.4.2.1.12.1. That designated enforcers are fully appraised of any existing guidelines of the government relative to enforcement of measures to fight the threat of COVID-19;

4.4.2.1.12.2. That enforcers shall at all times maintain their good disposition;

4.4.2.1.12.3. That enforcers are provided with the necessary PPEs, and are using the same at all times;

4.4.2.1.12.4. That enforcers shall not violate any human rights in the performance of their duty; and

4.4.2.1.12.5. That the enforcers shall be provided with hazard pay subject to availability of funds, and pursuant to existing government issued policies on the matter.

4.4.2.2. Aviation Sector

4.4.2.2.1. Air Flights — only flights listed under pertinent DOTr/IATF guidelines shall be allowed.

4.4.2.2.2. COVID-19 Rapid Testing Facility — rapid testing facilities shall be established in all airports and shall be managed by qualified healthcare providers.

4.4.2.2.3. Health Declaration and Locator Forms — all departing and arriving passengers shall be required to electronically fill out health declaration and locator forms.

4.4.2.3. Maritime Sector

4.4.2.3.1. Health Protocol Forms — all individuals entering ports and terminals must accomplish the health protocol forms.

4.5. Movement — Guidelines on interzonal movement that is set forth by the IATF shall be strictly observed. This shall include all limitations and exceptions as determined under existing policies, or as maybe further determined by the IATF and responsible national government agencies.

4.6. Minimum Public Health Standards — LGUs shall ensure that minimum health standards as determined by the DOH and/or the IATF shall be followed at all times by all persons specially those who shall avail of public transport services. This shall include the mandatory wearing of face masks in public.

4.7. Local Policy Support — All LGUs shall enact the necessary ordinances to support the implementation of measures to comply with these guidelines.

4.8. Dissemination. — All DILG Regional Directors and the BARMM Minister of Local Government are hereby directed to cause the widest dissemination of this Memorandum Circular within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

5. References

5.1. IATF Resolution No. 28, s. 2020

5.2. IATF Resolution No. 29, s. 2020

5.3. IATF Resolution No. 30, s. 2020

5.4. DOTr Public Transport Guidelines under General Community Quarantine

6. Effectivity

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

7. Approving Authority

(SGD.) EDUARDO M. AÑOSecretary