The Office of the Vice President (OVP) may have to rely on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the continued operations of its free shuttle service for medical frontliners in case the enhanced community quarantine is extended.
Speaking on her weekly radio show, Vice President Leni Robredo said they have already coordinated with DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade regarding the matter since her office’s shuttle service is set to end on April 14.
“Ito iyong agreement namin doon sa aming partners. Kung ma-e-extend pa, iyong enhanced community quarantine, nakipag-usap na kami sa DOTr,” she said.
The government is mulling the possibility of extending the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon by 15 to 20 days beyond the April 12 deadline.
Robredo noted the DOTr has more than 100 buses so she hoped the agency will apply the lessons the OVP learned in free shuttle service, among which are the bus routes, schedules, and designated pick-up and drop-off points.
“Iyong lahat na natutunan namin, lahat na naaral, iyong lahat na stops, lahat na ruta, iyong lahat na na-gather namin, sinulat namin sa DOTr at nag-text na nga si Secretary Tugade,” she said.
“Kaya sana ito iyong maganda rin na bunga ng karanasan natin,” the opposition leader added.
OVP’s free shuttle service has eight bus routes that transport about 450 health workers and frontliners daily. These routes cover various private and public hospitals in Metro Manila.
The initiative came after the public transport was suspended due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. (Raymund F. Antonio)