Muntinlupa allows trike operations

The city government of Muntinlupa has allowed tricycles to operate during the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila.

However, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said tricycle drivers can only transport frontliners, workers of industries allowed to operate during the MECQ, and heads of households buying essential goods.

The mayor said only one passenger per tricycle will be allowed, with an exemption for emergency cases, with a fare of P25 per trip.

Minimum health protocols will still be followed, including installation of transparent plastic sheet barriers, disinfection of tricycles at least twice a day, provision of alcohol-based sanitizers and implementation of “no mask, no ride” policy.

The odd-even scheme for tricycles will continue to be implemented where Tricycle Regulatory Unit numbers ending in odd numbers will be allowed to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with even numbers can operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Fresnedi added the Libreng Sakay to commuters will also continue to augment transportation in the city.

He urged city residents to stay at home and follow health protocols, such as frequent handwashing, physical distancing, the wearing of masks, proper cough etiquette and other precautionary measures.

The city police have also installed checkpoints at city boundaries, while the local government has limited its physical transactions.

To limit intra-city movement, quarantine passes will be required again.

Old quarantine passes are still valid and may be used by residents at checkpoints.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DPWH DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways and Department of Health officials confer on the conceptual design for the five proposed field modular hospitals at Quezon Institute to further augment its capacity. The new structures will have a 110-bed capacity for coronavirus patients.