After being criticized by netizens for giving a citation ticket to a motorcycle rider transporting a nurse, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that their enforcers are just strictly implementing the guidelines of the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
In the viral Facebook post of Michael Villanueva, he detailed how he was flagged down by MMDA traffic enforcers because he was travelling with his sister-in-law who is a nurse.
He was fined P5, 000 by the enforcers despite telling them that they were just forced to do backriding as there was “no or limited” shuttle service available in Tungko, Bulacan.
Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, MMDA spokesperson, explained that their hands are tied because they are just enforcing the guidelines given to them by the IATF.
“We are just obeying the IATF guidelines. This is not being allowed because it is against social distancing. It is meant to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Pialago said.
Pialago noted that the Department of Transportation is providing free rides for health workers in Metro Manila during the span of the enhanced community quarantine.
“Frontliners, such as doctors and nurses, can now see the routes and locations of the buses dedicated for them online,” she said.
It can be recalled that there was also a similar incident that occurred in Valenzuela City in March wherein a health worker was given P5,000 citation ticket for backriding his brother, who is a health worker, too.
Mass transportation in the metropolis has been suspended by the government in line with the enhance community quarantine. (Jel Santos)