NARRA, Palawan — Narra town has imposed a strict physical distancing policy on tricycle operations as a measure to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus.
Executive Order No. 72 series of 2020 released Monday adapted the Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines on general community quarantine (GCQ).
The regulation involves the following:
* Only one passenger is allowed, both driver and passenger should wear face masks, driver should wear gloves.
* A plastic cover should be placed between passenger seats and driver seats, a mark should be placed on the seat where the passenger can occupy
* Tricycles must have hand sanitizers or alcohol and terminals must have washing areas
* Tricycle drivers should record the name, address and some other basic details of the passengers for contact tracing purposes
* Tricycles should be disinfected for every 2 hours
* Same rates will apply
Committee on Transportation chairperson and Sangguniang Bayan member Cenon Garcia told Palawan News that the policies they are imposing in the town were based on the guidelines from the national government.
“Kung ano ‘yong ipinapatupad ng national government tungkol sa social distancing dapat ‘yon din talaga ang i-practice at maipatupad natin,” he said.
During the first days of the implementation of the policy, some tricycle drivers have expressed their concerns, asking for the government to at least allow them to carry two passengers and to have a fare hike for the meantime.
Arnel Villaluz, a tricycle driver shared his sentiments on the policy, said that it could be better if they will be allowed to have two passengers.
“Isa lang po talaga sinasakay namin, ‘yon talaga minsan ang pinoproblema namin, dapat sana tig dadalawa nalang para hindi naman kami lugi sa gasolina, e ang problema isa lang ang pinapayagan kaya hirap din kami, lalo na sa amin na malalayo, pag isa lang lugi pa rin, okay naman po sana ang isa-isa kung may dagdag ‘yong binigiay ng pasahero,”
Another tricycle driver, who refused to be named shared the same sentiments.
“Isa lang talaga ang pasahero ganun din ang pamasahe lugi talaga, sana magawan ng paraan nila yan na kahit isa lang pero sana kahit doblehin manlang ‘yong pamasahe parang kagaya sa puerto, pansamantala lang naman ‘yon pag normal na, ibalik na lang sa dati, sa 13 hirap talaga,” he said.
Jhovy-rhina Flores, president of the Malinao-Narra Tricycle Association said that though they are only allowed to carry one passenger at a time, some passengers are giving them additional fee dor their service.
“Kahit sabi na medyo mahirap pero kailangan talagang maghanapbuhay, isa lang po talaga ang pwedeng isakay, same lang din po sa dati ang pamasahe mabuti po at may mga pasahero rin mg nagdadagdag ng bigay,” she said.
Garcia, on the other hand, asked for understanding and cooperation from the transport groups.
“Nag-arise talaga yong mga concern na yan sa amin, sabi naman namin ito ay hindi namin kagustuhan. Lahat tayo ay nasa krisis at sana maintindihan din nila. Kaunting sakripisyo at ito ay matatapos din,” he said.
“Apektado talaga, kung iisipin, kaya nga lang ito ‘yong ibinabang batas sa atin nasa krisis tayo dahil sa COVID-19 kaya talagang isasarcifice muna natin siguro for 15 days kung wala na talaga, ‘yon lang naman ang hiling namin sa kanila. Gustuhin man namin talaga na maging dalawa ang kanilang pasahero hindi naman din pwede talaga, mananagot naman din tayo sa batas kung hindi tayo susunod,” he added.
He said that concerning fare, passengers may voluntarily add to the standard rates.
“Kung may pasahero na magdagdag syempre meron namang mga good samaritan na nakakaintindi na inaalala niya rin ‘yong biyahe ng tao, kung sila po at magbibigay ng doble tanggapin lang, okay yon pero kung sila ang magfoforce sa pasahero na doble hindi rin tama ‘yon,” he said.
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