The Davao City government will continue to provide free bus rides for Dabawenyos allowed to work under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) even as more public transports are already allowed to operate starting on Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“Duna gihapon ta’y free ride gikan sa City Government of Davao. Ipadayon ta ni as long as duna’y quarantine (We still have the free rides of the City Government of Davao. We will continue this as long as we are under quarantine),” Mayor Inday Sara Duterte said on Friday over the Davao City Disaster Radio.
The city government has been organizing the “Libreng Sakay” to pick up Dabawenyos on a daily basis at 6:30 a.m and at 7:00 p.m in strategic areas in the city.
While she allows more public transport to operate, Mayor Inday, however, reminded that physical distancing should be implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This means that a seating arrangement with barriers must be implemented for public utility vehicles and limiting the number of passengers for taxi cabs, tricycles, bicycles, and private vehicles.
“Ang atoang mga jeepneys dapat duna sila’y barriers.. (Our jeepneys must have barriers),” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio on Friday.
For taxis and private vehicles, the same measures during the ECQ will be applied under GCQ.
“Atoang private vehicles and taxis – one driver, one passenger in front, one passenger at the back,” Mayor Inday said.
Back rides for single motorcycles and bicycles are still not allowed under GCQ.
All passengers in all public transport are still required to present a GCQ-exempted employee ID or FM pass whenever asked by the driver or law enforcer.
Privately employed drivers must also present an employee ID or a certification from his employer, and a photocopy or a mobile phone picture of the employer’s ID.
These measures for transportation are underlines in the newly-released Executive Order No. 33 Series of 2020 which provides the GCQ guidelines that will officially take effect on Saturday, May 16, 2020. CIO