The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that they will soon start the implementation of digital fares or cashless transactions in some modes of public transportation in preparation for the so-called “new normal.”
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade made the statement after President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under the general community quarantine (GCQ) beginning next week.
In the same task force meeting Thursday night, Tugade said the shift is made in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among those riding taxis, buses, and modernized jeepneys.
“Uumpisahan natin, part of the new normal, magkakaroon ho tayo ng digitalized operation sa taxi, sa bus, na kung saan magkakaroon ng cashless transaction,” he said.
“Again, to help prevent the spread of the disease. Ito na ho ‘yung mga card system. Ginagawa ho at gagawin namin sa mga taxi at saka mga modernized jeepney at bus ‘yan,” he added.
Metro Manila will shift to the GCQ on June 1 after being under the enhanced and modified enhanced community quarantine since March this year. This will be the first time that public transportation will be allowed in Metro Manila in more than two months.
According to Tugade, ride-hailing service Grab will now be allowed under the GCQ.
“Yung Grab at taxi pwede ho mag-operate ‘yan,” he said.
Aside from this, he likewise announced that the Light and Metro rail transit systems (LRT and MRT) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) are ready to make their comeback on Monday. However, these won’t operate in full capacity.
To make up for the limited capacity of the railways, Tugade said the DOTr will be deploying at least 300 buses that will ply the same route as these train lines.
The DOTr will also be setting up bike lanes along EDSA. The use of bicycles has been highly encouraged by the IATF since it serves as a means of transportation where physical distancing is observed and as a form of exercise. (Argyll Geducos)