Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered all drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the province to use personal air purifiers amid the pandemic.
The memorandum dated August 13, 2021, became effective on Monday, August 16, 2021.
“Effective August 16, 2021, all drivers and conductors of Public Utility Vehicles are required to wear personal purifiers at all times during their trip,” the memorandum read.
Cebu LGU also tasked the Philippine National Police and Highway Patrol Group “to assist in the strict implementation” of the mandatory use of personal air purifiers.
Meanwhile, Piston Cebu called the move a “band-aid” solution to the increasing number of cases in the province.
“Ang kining air purifier usa ka band-aid solution lamang. Ang kinahanglan karon sa katawhan papaspasan ang libre ug luwas nga bakuna ug libreng swab test. Dapat pud pakusgan ang mass testing ug contact tracing, ug himuong libre ang pagpatambal sa mag-positive sa COVID,” said Greg Perez, chairperson of PISTON-Cebu.
PUV drivers in Cebu required to use personal air purifiers
(The air purifier is a mere band-aid solution. The people need now to hasten the distribution of free and safe vaccines and free swab testing. Mass testing and contact tracing should also be strengthened, and treatment for COVID-19 positive patients should be free.)
They added that now that air purifiers are mandatory, they should be made free and provided by the government as this is just an additional expense on the part of the ordinary drivers and conductors.
Perez commented, “Aduna pa tay krisis gi-atubang karon sa pandemya. Pila ka buwan walay kita ang mga driver tungod sa lockdown ug sa mga bag-ong polisiya sa pampublikong transportasyon. Ang air purifier dugang lamang kini nga gasto sa amoang mga driver ug konduktor.”
(We are still facing a crisis with this pandemic. The drivers have had no income for many months because of the lockdown and the new policies imposed on public transportation. The air purifier is just an additional expense on the part of the drivers and conductors.)
PISTON-Cebu also pushed for the ₱10,000 immediate government assistance that workers nationwide have consistently clamored for.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.