Take disinfection seriously, public transport operators told

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is calling on the operators and drivers of public transport vehicles to be serious and extra diligent in the disinfection of vehicles as part of health protocols against Covid-19.

In a news release Monday, Tugade said the proper disinfection of public transport vehicles is a key factor in keeping commuters safe from Covid-19.

“We should not be hasty in the cleaning and disinfection of our vehicles. The riding public trust us that the jeepneys, the buses, and the other public transport vehicles that we operate are safe, and virus-free,” Tugade said.

Tugade made the appeal after a recent viral video uploaded on Facebook showed how two cleaning staffers of the MRT-3 were shown to be hastily and playfully disinfecting one of the line’s trains.

The MRT-3 management implemented measures to prevent a repeat of the incident. The staffers involved are now facing disciplinary action.

Tugade said as frontline service providers, operators, and drivers of public transport vehicles should always be aware of the major role they play in containing the spread of Covid-19.

“As operators and drivers of public transport vehicles, you do not only bring passengers from their homes to their workplaces and back. You are also given the responsibility to make sure that they are healthy and safe when they arrive at their destinations,” he said.

He also appealed to the riding public to actively participate in containing the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19 by complying with health protocols implemented in public transport.

The public can also report to authorities any breach of health protocols such as fellow passengers talking or eating inside vehicles, the improper wearing of masks and face shields, and not following the strict physical distancing rule.

“Let us do our share by reporting immediately to the proper authorities any breach of health protocols that are committed inside public transport vehicles by your fellow passengers. We are all in this fight together,” Tugade said.

Commuters who may have witnessed any violation of health protocols inside public transport vehicles are advised to immediately contact the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, rail transport operators, and the air and maritime sector authorities.