Cops to boost visibility as some provincial buses resume ops

THE JOINT Task Force Covid Shield ordered police officers to intensify visibility at provincial bus terminals that were allowed to resume operations starting Wednesday.  

Task force commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this is to maintain peace and order as well as ensure the public's compliance with health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“We need to ensure that both the bus company employees and the passengers will observe the minimum health safety standard protocol especially on the aspects of wearing face masks and face shields and the observation of physical distancing inside the passenger buses,” Eleazar said in a statement Tuesday.

Over the weekend, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed the operation of 12 modified provincial bus routes to Metro Manila from Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna and Cavite starting September 30.

The conditions set for the resumption of Metro Manila-bound bus operations include the prohibition on picking up passengers outside of the terminals, no eating, drinking, and talking inside the passenger buses, and prohibition in making and taking cellular phone calls.

Eleazar said the police presence in bus terminals is in line with the order of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan for marshaling of public transportation as part of the measures against the Covid-19.

Cascolan earlier said the police marshaling in public transportation is aimed at ensuring that the protocols such as at least one-meter physical distancing, wearing of face masks and face shields and the checking of body temperature are strictly and properly observed.

The public could reach the PNP and the JTF Covid Shield through the following hotlines: PNP Helpline 16677, 0998-849-0013 for Smart users, 0917-538-2495 for Globe users and PNP-Highway Patrol Group Hotline 0926-225-5474.

The PNP and JTF Covid Shield could also be reached via ncovmonitoring@gmail.com and PNP2019nCoVARDopn@gmail.com. (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)