BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the order to reduce physical distancing measures in public transportation is a calibrated move, saying the government will put additional health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In a Facebook Live virtual presser Saturday, Nograles said the move is part of the government’s National Action Plan Phase 2 where the country will now balance health and the economy.
“So unti-unti binubuksan natin ang ekonomiya, nagkakaroon ng economic activities, bumabalik na sa trabaho ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Nograles said that easing physical distancing measures from one meter to .75 meter is one way to address the issue but added that it will come with additional health protocols.
“Dapat may additional health protocols na ilalagay or i-put in place para hindi pa rin ma-sacrifice at hindi magkaroon ng exposure sa COVID-19,” he said.
The Palace official said that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is regularly discussing physical distancing measures during its meetings, saying they will not allow that if it will be the reason for the respiratory illness to spread even further.
According to Nograles, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is studying how public transportation goes about in other countries like Japan amid the pandemic.
“Tinitignan ng DOTr ilan bang capacity ang ina-accommodate ng mga tren ng Japan. Ano ba ang ginagamit nila (The DOTr is studying the number of passengers accommodated by the trains in Japan. What measures are they implementing)?” he said.
“Itong ganitong klaseng adjustments na nakikita nating ginagawa ng DOTr, is carefully calibrated pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na ‘pag bawasan natin ‘yung physical distancing, wala tayong idadagdag na health protocols,” he added.
The DOTr will start implementing the reduced physical distancing measures starting Monday. (Argyll Geducos)
