Mayor Sara Duterte is ready to defend her decision to allow tricycles to continue ferrying commuters under the enhanced community quarantine.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2020-062 issued on March 21.
Under Provision of Transportation, the circular stated that “transportation should also be provided by LGUs for those seeking to avail of these basic services such as those needing to go to the hospital or clinics, or those who have limited access to establishments providing basic necessities. LGUs are reminded to exercise strict social distancing measures, including appropriate health protocols.”
Duterte said that the DILG order was the city’s basis in allowing tricycles and taxis during ECQ.
Some netizens have noted the apparent double standard, especially since Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto was asked to explain his decision to allow tricycles to continue to operate amid the enhanced community quarantine.
“If the City Government of Davao will not allow taxis and tricycles to move the general public for their basic necessities, we will be caught in an absurd situation where people who own vehicles can easily move around and the general public would resort to walking more than 20kms just to buy food and other basic necessities,” she said in her statement.
Following the MC 2020-062, the city government issued Executive Order 23 with the following modes of transportation allowed:
a. Private vehicles and Taxis with 1 driver and 1 passenger in front and 1 at the back, observing physical distancing;
b. Tricycle with 1 driver and 1 passenger in front and 1 at the back, observing distancing;
c. Single rider motorcycle or bicycle;
d. Free bus rides for employees of ECQ exempted sector, the health sector, and other frontliners
She also said that any suggestion as an alternative to this matter would also be accepted.
“I would appreciate any proposal, should anyone have a better answer on how we can individually transport to the hospital, clinics, grocery stores, public markets, and other establishments providing basic necessities, at any given time, between 6 am and 6 pm, approximately 400,000 individuals with food and medicine passes, in an area comprised of 2,443.61 sq. km,” she said.
Duterte said she will answer any inquiry from the DILG and the National Bureau of Investigation on the matter.
