‘Untested people sneaking into Manila’
MANILA: Philippine Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade has called for tough action against those who smuggle into the greater Manila area people untested for Covid-19.
He said people not tested for the virus coud pay trucking companies and illegal transport vehicles to bring them into the bubble called the National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus).
Tugade said he was informed that closed vans and trucks smuggle people across the borders of greater Manila. Once across, the smuggled people will be fetched by commuter vans.
Tugade said the people being transported are most likely untested and could spread Covid19.
A video taken in south Luzon showed people huddled in the back of a lorry. Many of them were not wearing masks.
Once outside the lorry, the passengers were instructed to board unmarked commuter vans which would bring them to their destinations in Metro Manila.
Tugade said workers authorised to work in the NCR Plus bubble could travel to their jobs by using authorised forms of transport.