Ako Bicol solon appeals for resumption of provincial bus services

Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co appealed to the national government to allow the resumption of provincial bus services to give those who got stranded in other areas a means to return home. 

Co asked the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), relevant departments and local government units to come up with a set of unified guidelines to facilitate the resumption of provincial bus operations.

“With all due respect, the national government and LGUs must discuss, agree and lay down clear cut guidelines for bus operators and commuters. The goal is to allow stranded Filipinos to ride provincial buses while minimizing risks of potential COVID-19 infection,” he said.

Transporting people across borders at this time entails a lot of coordination between national and local government agencies.

Co cited his experience in bringing home stranded construction workers and Bicolano students from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. “It’s difficult, but not impossible,” he stressed.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. I’m sure we can all agree on a set of clear, systematic and non-redundant guidelines. We owe it to our kababayans (countrymen),” he said.

Co also wanted test clearances for COVID-19 and adherence to quarantine requirements to be imperative for all passengers, bus drivers and crew. He said requiring passengers to undergo another 14-day quarantine upon arrival, if mandated by LGUs, is better than not being allowed to go home at all.

“The cost of rapid tests and protective gear like masks can be included in the cost of tickets so there’s some level of comfort for commuters and bus operators. For those who were tested, cleared and have completed the mandatory quarantine, I don’t think they would mind going through another two weeks of self-isolation in the province just to reunite with their families,” he added.

Co said buses ferry millions of passengers each year, more than all domestic airlines combined. He added that buses are critical especially with airports in the Bicol region having recently reopened.

The Bicol Region will remain under Modified General Community Quaratine (MGCQ) until June 30 based on the statement released by President Rodrigo Duterte.