Children can ride public transport – MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified this Sunday that children could ride public vehicles, contrary to earlier statements by other officials.

In an interview with Teleradyo, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said children can ride public vehicles under Alert Level 2, which now exists in Metro Manila.

ADVERTISEMENT

He said there was only “miscommunication” with the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT) so it was said earlier that children are not allowed in public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“Ang sabi sa’kin ni [Transportation Undersecretary] Steve Pastor, nagkaroon lamang ng miscommunication sa IACT pero puwede raw ang mga matatanda at bata sa public transportation,” said Abalos.

The MMDA, on the other hand, is studying whether to implement the number coding or truck ban again, significantly as the number of vehicles on the road is gradually increasing and the holiday rush is already being felt.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Abalos, 405,000 passengers were traveling on EDSA before the pandemic, and now the difference is only 402,000 or about 3,000.

Officials are looking into whether the number coding can be restored even if the passenger capacity of PUVs has not been returned to 100 percent, Abalos said.

Starting Thursday, the capacity of public vehicles in Metro Manila and some neighboring provinces has been increased to 70 percent. Next, it will look at whether there will be COVID-19 transmission and whether capacity can be restored to 100 percent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Apart from vehicles, the MRT project on North Avenue is also causing traffic.

Children can ride public transport: MMDA

Meanwhile, the is ready to pilot limited face-to-face classes that will begin on November 15 in selected schools.

According to Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, the schools that will participate in the face-to-face classes are already being inspected.

About 100 public schools and 20 private schools were allowed to participate in limited in-person classes. However, it only covers students in kindergarten, grades 1 to 3, and senior high school.

According to Malaluan, the parents of the students have already been permitted to return to school.

“They are actually excited to see sa mga mag-aaral natin na tumuntong ulit sa loob ng mga silid-aralan,” he said.

Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.