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Posts tagged as “Department of Transportation”

DOTr to increase seating capacity of Jeepneys to 70% and will no longer require the plastic barrier

November 1, 2021

In a facebook post, Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to increase the seating capacity of road-based and rail transportation by 70% on November 4, 2021, and the plastic barrier will no longer be require in PUJs.

Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved DOTr’s proposal to increase the seating capacity of jeepneys and rail transport last Oct. 28th. The proposal was made after quarantine status in the NCR was downgraded from Alert Level 4 to a more relaxed Alert Level 3 last October 16 until October 31.

Here is DOTr’s announcement;

Filipino Seafarers are now included in the priority list of National COVID-19 Vaccination Program

April 12, 2021

Good news to all Filipino Seafarers, since Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approves the recommendation of the DOTr to include them in the priority list of the government’s national vaccination rollout.

“This is a very good development for our maritime industry champions— our seafarers. Now, our Filipino seafarers will be given priority to be vaccinated. Paulit-ulit ko pong inilalarawan ang ating maritime workforce bilang mga silent workers ng bayan. They work silently, yet their contribution is as crucial as keeping the economy thriving. Not only are they frontliners, but they are undoubtedly HEROES, too,” DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade expressed.

There are currently 730,651 Filipino seafarers and all are for consideration in the A4 category. You can go here for more details on the groups of persons listed under A4 category.

Here’s the full text of Department of Transportation (DOTr) official statement;

FILIPINO SEAFARERS NOW INCLUDED IN PRIORITY LIST IN THE NAT’L COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM

Filipino seafarers get a closer shot at getting vaccines against COVID-19 as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approves the recommendation of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to include them in the priority recipients listed in the government’s national vaccination rollout.

“This is a very good development for our maritime industry champions— our seafarers. Now, our Filipino seafarers will be given priority to be vaccinated. Paulit-ulit ko pong inilalarawan ang ating maritime workforce bilang mga silent workers ng bayan. They work silently, yet their contribution is as crucial as keeping the economy thriving. Not only are they frontliners, but they are undoubtedly HEROES, too,” DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade expressed.

DOTr OIC Assistant Secretary for Maritime VADM Narciso Vingson Jr., who also chairs the Inter-Agency Working Group tasked to firm up the DOTr’s proposal on the priority vaccination of Filipino seafarers in recognition of the vital role they play amid the present global crisis, presented the proposal and justification in a meeting with the IATF.
“The working group is in the unified position to push for the prioritization of Filipino seafarers in the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program to secure their employment, and to ensure the safe shipping operations of essential goods amid the pandemic,” Asec. Vingson said.

Aside from DOTr, the working group is composed of officials from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through its Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO). It also represents the local Licensed Manning Agencies through the membership of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA), Joint Manning Group (JMG), Filipino Association for Mariner’s Employment (FAME), and the Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Ship Managers (PAMAS).

From falling under B3 (Other essential workers) or B5 (Overseas Filipino Workers) in the Vaccination Priority Framework, the Inter-Agency Working Group has requested for the reclassification of Filipino seafarers to A4 (Frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential during ECQ). This makes seafarers move at the top 4 priority groups to be vaccinated.
With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, the IATF has adopted early this year the prioritization framework and criteria of the national immunization rollout to allocate the first tranches of vaccines given its limited global supply.

Furthermore, the prioritization of seafarers in the vaccination is based on the following grounds: Filipino seafarers are declared key workers globally and locally; Filipino seafarers are considered mobile, who, as part of their jobs, frequently enter various ports across the world; and shipping companies prefer their workforce to be vaccinated to ensure that their operations will remain smooth, unhampered, and somehow immune to the severe effects of COVID-19.

To further determine the specific population to be prioritized, the Working Group classified seafarers into two. Top priority will be given to active seafarers or those with recorded sea service within the last three (3) years, while new seafarers or those with last recorded sea service beyond 2018 shall be ranked second.
Per MARINA and POEA data, there are a total of 549,000 active seafarers registered in their system, wherein around 497,000 are those deployed overseas and 51,000 are serving locally. Meanwhile, a total of 181,000 seafarers are without updated sea service within the last three (3) years.

In summary, there are 730,651 Filipino seafarers who are for consideration in the A4 category.

DOTr will implement cashless transaction on the EDSA Busway System this October 1st

September 28, 2020
DOTr will implement cashless transaction on the EDSA Busway System this October 1st

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will soon implement a cashless transaction system using beep cards on public utility buses (PUBs) of the EDSA Busway System.

Announcement was made on DOTr Facebook page and Twitter account.

Here’s the full text of their announcement;

EDSA BUSWAY SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT FULLY CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS WITH BEEPTM CARDS

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), will begin implementation of a fully cashless transaction system using BeepTM Cards on public utility buses (PUBs) of the EDSA Busway System starting October 1.

According to DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor, the move was part of the agency’s added safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus associated with cash-handling in public transport.

“We want to ensure that commuters along EDSA will have a safer and comfortable travel, while at the same time providing them a more seamless and efficient system of public transport,” said Pastor. “This will also complement other safety and health protocols already enforced by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on PUVs, such as the required social distancing, and mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields to board.”

At the same time, the LTFRB is urging EDSA Busway patrons to purchase their Beep cards and to buy or put load in the cards to avoid inconveniences in payment once the automated fare collection system is implemented.

“As we are removing other potential health risks, we also want to limit the time spent in queues and lines that come with having to do cash payments,” said LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra. “We are envisioning that even more public transport vehicles adopt digital transactions means, either through QR codes, online payments or tying up with cashless payment providers such as Beep.”

Beep cards are stored-value contactless cards that provide easier, modern, and more convenient ways of paying for the ride. Fare is deducted from the card upon tapping at its fare collection machine. This system is also used in Metro Manila’s three elevated railways which are the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 and by a number of Point-to-Point (P2P) buses and modern Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) nationwide.

To load the BeepTM cards, passengers can go to any LRT and MRT stations, FamilyMart and Ministop branches, Bayad Center and their affiliates, or via Over-the-Air (OTA) loading partners such as BPI, Eon by Unibank, Akulaku, and Justpayto.

The EDSA Busway is a joint project of the DOTr, LTFRB and MMDA, with the vision to transport commuters from Monumento to PITX, through a deficated median bus lane, within a significantly lower travel time (3 hours to just less than an hour). It began its operations last July 1.

This program is also part of the DOTr’s call to boost digital and cashless transactions among transportation service providers nationwide and the overall public transport system in the country.

DOTr and IATF releases Road, Aviation, Maritime and Railways transport guidelines for areas under GCQ

May 4, 2020
DOTr and IATF releases Road, Aviation, Maritime and Railways transport guidelines for areas under GCQ

Now that the Philippines is slowly easing the lockdown, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) release the set guidelines for Road Transport, Aviation, Maritime and Railways for areas under GCQ or General Community Quarantine.

@DOTrPH;

AVIATION

The following flights are allowed to operate for areas under GCQ:
1) Government and military flights;
2) International flights subject to existing IATF-EID/BOQ protocols;
3) Air ambulance and medical supplies;
4) Flight check and weather mitigation flights;
5) Maintenance and utility flights;
6) Emergency flights; domestic flights coming to and from provinces and cities under GCQ, subject to required airport clearances and flight plan approvals, as maybe applicable; and
7) Other flights ( as approved by IATF-EID).

– Wearing of face mask, face shield or other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), is compulsory for ALL individuals.

– Passengers with VALID travel documents shall be allowed to enter airport premises. Checking of body temperature is mandatory upon entry.

– SOCIAL DISTANCING measures shall be strictly observed inside airport premises.

– Security procedures shall be done through “no contact means” but not limited to the use of walk through x-ray machines, portable scanners, handheld metal detectors, among others, effectively limiting close contact security screening by means of pat down/manual frisking to exceptional instances/situations.

– The regulation covering the maximum allowable hand carried bags/items shall be strictly implemented.

– COVID-19 Rapid Testing facilities installed at all airports are managed by qualified healthcare providers.

– Disinfecting facilities established in terminals shall be equipped with alcohol and/or soap. Foot baths shall also be installed in all entry and exit points of passengers and airport personnel, including boarding bridges and/or similar areas for passenger embarkation/disembarkation to and from the aircraft. All airport facilities and equipment, including lavatories, frequently touched surfaces, wheelchairs, trolleys, countertops, etc., shall be regularly disinfected and sanitized.

– Safety precaution posters and other health guidelines shall be displayed at strategic places. Alert bulletins shall be shown through airport flight information display systems, and via public announcements.

– Digital enablers (websites/Mob Apps/On-ground Kiosk) and communication, as well as education programs through social media, shall be utilized to inform and engage with passengers.

– All arriving and departing passengers are required to electronically fill-out Health Declaration and Passenger Locator Forms.

MARITIME

– In accordance with the IATF and DOH protocols, passenger capacity in ships and other passenger vessels SHALL BE REDUCED TO 50%.

– Upon entering the port premises and terminals, all individuals must fill-out and accomplish health protocol forms. Mandatory checking of body temperature will also be conducted upon entering the terminal and embarkation on ships.

– SOCIAL DISTANCING measures shall be strictly observed inside ports, ships, and other passenger vessels, at all times.

– In port facilities, particularly areas for frontline services, such as passenger terminal buildings (PTBs), port integrated clearing offices and other areas, physical distancing shall be observed.

– In order to maintain cleanliness and sanitation, all disinfecting facilities, such as foot baths, handwashing stations with alcohol and/or soap, and sanitation tents will be established at all entrances of terminals, ports, in ships, and other passenger vessels.

– Wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) is MANDATORY. Upon entry of ports, terminals, and passenger vessels, all individuals shall undergo disinfection procedures, such as foothbath, among others.

– To ensure that all premises are regularly cleaned and sanitized, thorough disinfection of ships, passenger vessels, ports, terminals and facilities, as well as various equipment, will be conducted regularly.

– Information dissemination on hygiene and sanitary practices will be shown to passengers through different media platforms in PTBs, and other strategic locations of the ports and terminals.

ROAD

– All permitted PUVs, transport terminals and operators must follow three essential components dictated in the protocol/guidelines – SAFETY, CAPACITY and COVERAGE/SCOPE.

-SAFETY refers to guidelines that REDUCE contact, transmission, and spread of the virus through the MANDATORY USE of face masks and gloves for drivers. Thorough DISINFECTING practices of vehicles, terminals, and even among passengers are also required.

-CAPACITY and passenger load factors will be required for each mode of transportation to ensure that physical distancing is followed.

-Passenger load for public utility buses (PUBs) and public utility jeepneys (PUJs) SHOULD NOT EXCEED 50 percent or half of the vehicle’s capacity, excluding driver and conductor.

– For UV Express and taxis, passenger load SHOULD NOT EXCEED TWO PASSENGERS PER ROW, except for the driver’s row where only one passenger is allowed..

– Tricycles must NOT EXCEED ONE PASSENGER in the side-car, while backriding is not be allowed.

– Private cars and motorcycles will be allowed to operate for the purpose of essential travels as defined by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

– Private cars will only be allowed ONE PASSENGER to occupy the front passenger seat, while FRONT-FACING seats shall not exceed TWO PASSENGERS per row.

– Motorcycles are PROHIBITED from having BACKRIDE passengers. Meanwhile, the use of BICYCLES and similar devices are also highly encouraged, and LGUs are also encouraged to identify bike-lanes, or bike-only roads.

– The mode of PUV that will operate in each route in the GCQ areas will be guided by the number of passengers that will be transported.

-PUVs with higher passenger capacity such as buses will be prioritized consistent with the Department Order No. 2017-011. In areas where buses are not enough to serve the actual passenger demand, or the road characteristics will not permit their operations, PUVMP compliant PUVs are the next priority. In areas with unavailable buses and modern PUVs, PUJ’s and UV Express may operate. In areas were no other mode of public transportation is available, tricycles may be permitted to operate as determined by the LTFRB in coordination with the corresponding LGU.

– The LTFRB has already finalized the mechanism for issuing of special permits to allow PUVs to operate. Drivers and operators may apply for the permit, free of charge, through LTFRB offices or by email through LTFRB’s online channels.

– Private vehicle owners, PUV drivers and operators, and private or public transport terminal operators who VIOLATE the guidelines will be SANCTIONED and PENALIZED.

RAIL

– Operations of LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3 and PNR will resume with LIMITED CAPACITY after the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed in Metro Manila, or on May 16, 2020.

– Upon the resumption of operations, all rail lines will observe the March 14, 2020 DOTr Guidelines on Community Quarantine, as well as additional health and safety measures pursuant to IATF and DOH Guidelines.

– 1-meter SOCIAL DISTANCING should be strictly observed inside the trains and stations. Presence of markings, signages, tarpaulins and other logistics will be utilized to ensure its firm implementation.

– Pursuant to DOH Guidelines, the following passengers will not be allowed to enter the station: 1) Passengers who are not wearing proper face mask; 2) Passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms or with a registered body temperature of 37.8°C or higher; and 3) Senior citizens, passengers aged 0-20, and pregnant women due to their susceptibility to COVID-19.

– Regular disinfection and sanitation of train interiors, station premises and facilities will be conducted. In addition, handwashing or disinfectant stations will be installed to adhere to sanitary measures set by DOH.

ANY MODE of public transportation in areas under the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), including Metro Manila, are prohibited.