NEW NORMAL. The pre-departure area of the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) is empty as the operation of public transport is suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine. The IBT management is preparing for new normal as the city is set to shift to the general community quarantine on May 15. (Photo courtesy of the IBT Facebook Page)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city government-owned Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) is preparing for the new normal scheme once the city shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ) from the enhanced community quarantine on May 15.
IBT supervising transportation regulation officer Rafael Derick Evangelista III said Saturday the needs assessment, inspection, and evaluation have been done on the various infrastructure and fixtures of the transport terminal.
He said protocols include the physical or social distancing at the pre-departure and arrival areas, monitoring of the passengers’ body temperature, installation of lavatories both at the departure and arrival areas, and stalls will only be allowed to sell food items on a take-out basis.
He said a passenger manifesto will be required, and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) guidelines will be observed.
The 36 IBT personnel will be divided into three shifts to ensure there will be on duty personnel round-the-clock, he added.
The IBT serves between 2,200 to 2,500 passengers a day on regular days and 5,000 to 6,000 during peak seasons.
It caters to buses plying from the city to the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Ozamis, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Cebu, and Dumaguete. (PNA)
