As most of you are aware, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has downgraded the quarantine status of the National Capital Region (NCR) to Alert Level 3. That said, this has allowed many people to go out and about, going to and from many different locations in the Metro.
Increased passenger capacity for PUVs means more income for operators
To this end, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is recommending that the passenger capacity of public utility vehicles (PUV) should be increased. Currently, PUVs are only allowed up to 50 percent of their maximum capacity. The agency said that this might be needed in order to cope with the increasing number of people using PUVs.
In doing so, the DOTr is also hoping that it will serve to strengthen the businesses that have opened during the easing of the quarantine status. An increase in passenger capacity for PUVs might mean higher foot traffic in malls, as well as better access to small businesses like restaurants and the like.
Furthermore, the DOTr mentioned that this increase in passenger capacity will alleviate the woes that public transport operators have been experiencing since the start of the pandemic. Compounding this is the recent string of fuel price hikes in the country. Potentially, the ability to take on more passengers will mean more profit for them and potentially offset their losses.
While many are excited for this judging by the comment thread on the DOTr’s official post regarding the matter, the agency is yet to provide an exact figure on the passenger capacity increase for PUVs. As of the moment, a proposal is still being penned in consideration to medical studies, and data.
For now, the DOTr is studying the possible ways of implementing the change in PUV passenger capacity
The DOTr is also looking at what this means for the safety protocols on PUVs. It is also considering the prevailing safety protocols in affected local government units in connection to the said proposal to the IATF.
Currently, the DOTr is continuously monitoring the passenger capacity in PUVs. It is also ensuring that safety protocols are still being followed in PUVs as well as terminals. Inspections are also carried out by the agency by way of mystery passengers who will observe as to how PUVs are following the current safety protocols.
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