82 PUV Drivers Nabbed in Cebu City Over Social Distancing Rule

In a bid to impose strict observance of the social distancing policy in public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas has conducted a series of road-side operations that resulted in the apprehension of a total of 82 drivers who violated the protocol meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) since last week.

Retired Col. Eduardo Montealto Jr., LTFRB-7 regional director, on Wednesday said operations were jointly conducted by his office and the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

On Tuesday, operations personnel from the LTFRB-7 and MPG-7 apprehended drivers of four public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and one UV (utility vehicle) Express van for allowing their passengers to sit close to each other despite the implementation of the social distancing rule in public transport.

The five apprehended were in addition to the 75 PUJ drivers and two bus drivers flagged down in four separate operations last week.

“Many of our drivers are hard-headed. We have to intensify the operations to make our drivers compliant with what the Department of Health (DOH) has advised us now that we have this Covid-19 crisis,” Montealto told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

According to him, these apprehensions will help them educate drivers and the riding public about the importance of following protocols established by health authorities to prevent transmission of the virus through public transport.

In observing social distancing, PUVs are only allowed to load half of its carrying capacity and let the passengers sit at least one space apart from each other.

Montealto said the LTFRB-7 personnel issued inspection report summons to the apprehended drivers who were cited as first offenders that could be slapped with the PHP5,000 minimum penalty.

Meanwhile, he said there were five UV Express drivers who were apprehended in Talisay City on Monday for charging their passengers beyond the approved fare tariff. (PNA)