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Health safeguards in place as NegOcc bus trips resume May 18

By Erwin Nicavera

May 14, 2020, 8:57 pm

<p><strong>SAFETY MEASURE.</strong> As part of health protection measures, the driver’s side or the front part of Ceres buses will be covered and closed to passengers. Operator Vallacar Transit, Inc. is implementing health safeguards to protect passengers and bus personnel once it resumes trips in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, on May 18, 2020. <em>(Photo courtesy of Vallacar Transit Inc.)</em></p>

SAFETY MEASURE. As part of health protection measures, the driver’s side or the front part of Ceres buses will be covered and closed to passengers. Operator Vallacar Transit, Inc. is implementing health safeguards to protect passengers and bus personnel once it resumes trips in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, on May 18, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Vallacar Transit Inc.)

BACOLOD CITY – The Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner and Tours buses, is implementing health safeguards to protect passengers and bus personnel once it resumes trips in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, on May 18.

Jesideth Marquez-Seballos, legal and media relations officer of VTI, said on Thursday that all bus units have been checked for road-worthiness and are ready to travel on Monday.

“Our president and chief executive officer, Leo Rey Yanson, wants to ensure the safety of all passengers. Necessary measures and strict policies will be implemented to help combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19),” she added.

The VTI halted the operations of Ceres buses here on March 30 after all forms of public transport were suspended in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City as part of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.

As community quarantine measures will be eased after May 15, bus trips can already resume trips from Bacolod to other parts of the province.

As part of the safety measures, Ceres buses will only pick up passengers at the terminals, where infrared body temperature scanning will be implemented.

Pick-up points will be set up for passengers who are far from the terminals.

“A passenger found to have a fever, or who has high temperature will not be allowed to board the bus,” Marquez-Seballos said.

The bus firm will also impose the “no face mask, no ride” and “no standing” policies, and will place a footbath on the stairs of every bus unit.

Hand washing areas will be established at the terminals and pick-up points.

“We will require the riding public to wash their hands and wear a mask before boarding the bus,” she added.

 Marquez-Seballos said they would also require passengers to write their names, address, and contact numbers in the manifesto in case of need for contact tracing.

At the terminals, passengers will be asked to sit on the bench one seat apart from one another.

Meanwhile, for the safety of drivers, the driver’s side or the front area of the bus will be closed to passengers.

Drivers and conductors will be given personal essentials to protect themselves.

The number of passengers on each bus will be limited to ensure observance of social distancing and bus seats that should not be occupied will be marked with a red “X”.

Marquez-Seballos said passengers could expect a slight increase in fare rate due to social distancing, adding that the new fare matrix would be posted inside the buses.

The new fare rate provided by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in its Memorandum Circular 2020-017 took effect last May 1.

“We hope for cooperation from the riding public. While we respond to the transport need of Negrenses, their safety is also the company’s top priority,” she added. (PNA)



 

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