Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (File photo)
MANILA – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said he supports measures to reduce the physical distance between passengers in public transport as long as certain health and safety protocols are observed.
"I support the proposal of (Transportation) Secretary (Arthur) Tugade to reduce the distance between passengers in public transport as long as the 'Seven Commandments' as recommended by doctors (are followed)," Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.
The "Seven Commandments", said Lorenzana, who is also National Task Force on Covid-19 head, are the following:
-Wearing of proper masks;
-Wearing of face shields;
-No talking and eating;
-Adequate ventilation;
-Frequent and proper disinfection;
-No symptomatic passengers;
-Appropriate physical distancing.
He added that these "commandments" will be discussed at the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) meeting on Tuesday.
On Monday, the physical distancing between commuters inside public transportation was reduced from one-meter to 0.75 meters.
The distancing would then be reduced to 0.5 meters on September 28, and 0.3 meters starting October 12.
The said protocol is subject to change should there be any concern after the implementation, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The “No Face Mask, No Face Shield, No Entry” policy, as well as the “No Talking and No Answering Calls” would also remain in effect in public transport.
Health groups and various sectors expressed concern over the measure claiming that it may lead to increased transmission of Covid-19 in public transport.
Over the weekend, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the move to adjust physical distancing in public transportation by a few centimeters was a "carefully calibrated" decision to address the gap brought by the reopening of the economy. (PNA)
