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Cotabato City to implement ban on public utility vehicles

By Edwin Fernandez

April 2, 2020, 10:12 pm

<p>The Cotabato City Hall. <em>(PNA Cotabato file photo)</em></p>

The Cotabato City Hall. (PNA Cotabato file photo)

COTABATO CITY – Operations of all public transport here will temporarily be suspended starting Friday as two more persons have tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Rolen Balquin, city public safety officer, said that public utility vehicles prohibited to ply the streets here include jeepneys, multi-cabs, buses, vans, tricycles, “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxis), and pedicabs.

“This is in compliance with the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),” Balquin said.

The ban came a day after the Department of Health in Region-12 (Soccsksargen) made public that two more patients, (PH2235) and (PH2236), were tested positive of the virus.

Both patients are now undergoing medication in the isolation facility of the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in this city.

Two patients were earlier tested positive in Cotabato City but one (PH145) has fully recovered and have returned home while the other, (PH599), is on home quarantine.

Balquin said the public transport ban decision of the city government is a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of the virus.

“Private vehicles are allowed to travel provided the driver and a passenger are related and have home quarantine pass,” Balquin said.

A motorcycle back-rider is also allowed provided that he or she is related to the driver such as spouses, frontliners, government health workers, police, soldiers, emergency patients, and those who will buy medicine and food provisions.

Balquin and the inter-agency task force on Covid-19 are closely monitoring business establishments that sell basic commodities to ensure physical distancing is observed. (With a report from Noel Punzalan/PNA)

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