DOTr Tightens Watch to Combat Spread of Coronavirus Disease

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies have stepped up measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade stressed that COVID-19 should not hamper the usual operations in all sectors of transportation.

“We ensure the riding public that we are doing measures to combat the spread of coronavirus in all transportation hubs. This will not stop us as a nation,” Secretary Tugade assured.

In its main office in Pampanga, every personnel, stakeholders, shall be subjected to a temperature check before entering the office premises. Those who are found to have a body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius shall be redirected to the medical clinic.

Aside from this, the DOTr also requires its stakeholders, and office visitors to wear face masks, and sanitize their hands on entering the offices.

For personnel on the frontline, the DOTr has ordered to maintain at least one (1) meter social distancing, to limit potential exposure from the disease.

In the aviation sector, which is one of the sectors hardest hit by the health crisis, the DOTr has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer payment of take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines to help the said airlines recover amid the drastic drop in passengers due to cancelled flights.

Meanwhile, MIAA has also stepped up sanitation efforts at the country’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), as revealed by its General Manager Ed Monreal. Cleaning and sanitation measures are now being done every 30 minutes.

The airport’s management also enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedure where all frequently used facilities cleaned and sanitized after every flight.

Frequently touched surfaces including elevator buttons, handrails, information counters, doorknobs, faucets, and concession stands are being regularly cleaned and applied with sanitizers.

For CAAP’s part, its employees, and stakeholders are now subjected to thermal screening at the main entrance of the office.

In the road sector, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) conducted a spot inspection in various terminals in Quezon City to check the maintenance and cleanliness of facilities, and the availability of disinfectants and sanitizers, which are free of use for passengers.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III also announced that they have added more preventive measures for drivers, operators, and riders in its Memorandum Circular 2020-005.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante ordered all LTO regional offices to ensure the availability of disinfectants, and sanitizers, to be used by its employees and clients.

The Office of Transportation Cooperatives has encouraged its stakeholders to transact electronically (official@otc.gov.ph), thru Facebook (@DOTR.OTC), contact numbers: (8)332-93-12; 09778329890. It adds, all transport cooperatives shall comply with MC 2020-01-002, to establish an official e-mail for ease of doing business.

For the maritime sector, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has mandated all its Port Management Offices (PMO) to make available to passengers, port users, and other stakeholders, disinfecting supplies such as anti-bacterial solutions, and hand sanitizers. This is aside from the usual thermal scanning of passengers and port personnel in all ports.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said they have ordered to postpone, defer or even cancel social events and gatherings encompassing all PPA ports.

“Fumigation and disinfection of all Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs) and PPA offices nationwide are also ongoing in order to reduce the risk of a sustained transmission via the seaports.”

“The policy on no disembarkation and expected vessel change-crew involving Filipinos, remain in force and if needed, all berthing privileges of vessels coming from highly-infected countries shall be canceled,” he added.

Proper disinfection and monitoring of cargoes in short-haul voyages are likewise put in place.

The PPA also encouraged the public, especially the port users, to communicate and transact with the agency through electronic media whenever practicable at 7954-8800 or thru helpdesk@ppa.com.ph.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Joel S. Garcia has formed Task Force Laban Coronavirus, which will be composed of 700 nurses and medical technologists to form a 100 seven-man team.

The PCG Task Force Laban Coronavirus will be equipped with hazardous material suit, goggles, and gloves, along with thermal scanners, masks, and alcohols to implement precautionary measures against the virus and conduct necessary medical assistance.

Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) General Manager Leonilo Miole has instructed all port managers to enforce a body temperature check for every passenger who enters the terminal through a non-contact thermometer and to ensure provision of soaps in all port comfort rooms and alcohol-based hand sanitizers in payment counters, main entrances, office doors, passengers terminal walkways and pre-departure areas.

In addition, temporary isolation rooms and holding areas in ports have been in place to provide fast assistance and response to identified febrile persons in ports and minimize risk of exposure to other port users.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) halted the conduct of maritime training courses in its training institutions in Metro Manila from 11 March to 14 March 2020 to protect the seafarers against COVID-19.

MARINA declared work suspension on Friday, March 13, 2020, to disinfect its premises considering the volume of seafarers and other clients it catered to for the past weeks, the same procedure will be done to its Regional Offices, Satellite Offices, and the PITX One-Stop Shop.

Meanwhile, all applications, both for seafarers and shipping will still be accepted and evaluated online.

The railways sector also assured that all its trains and stations are being regularly disinfected.

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) are strictly implementing preventive measures, and ensure hygiene in its facilities.

For the MRT-3, disinfection inside the trains, including train hand straps, handrails, and seats at the North Avenue Station is being in implemented.

Aside from this, hand sanitizers are also placed on the ticket windows, while soaps are available inside the restrooms for passengers to use.

Meanwhile, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said that it has doubled its measures to keep the LRT-1 trains and stations clean and safe for passengers.

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), meanwhile, said sanitation personnel of the LRT-2 are regularly disinfecting safety handrails and benches of the train system’s coaches in its Cubao terminal station in Quezon City.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has adopted thermal scanning since January 2020 to all passengers before entering stations. Any person detected with body temperature of 38 degrees and those with symptoms like cough and colds are advised not to board the train.

The PNR also declared work suspension to disinfect the PNR Executive Building from March 12, 2020 until Sunday, March 14, 2020.

PNR management also provided masks and alcohol to frontliners and train personnel.

Moreover, every loop, the trains are being disinfected. For Metro South Commuter, the disinfecting point is at Tutuban station; for Metro North Commuter, servicing and disinfecting point is Governor Pascual station and for Bicol Commuter, servicing point is at Naga station.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public health emergency last 08 March 2020, after the Department of Health (DOH) raised the alert level to Code Red-Sublevel 1. (DOTr PR)