This Week in Metro Manila (June 27 to July 2, 2020)

The Muntinlupa City Government placed Barangay Putatan under lockdown from June 23 until July 7 after the City Health Office (CHO) reported 10 new COVID-19 positive cases in the area. In their announcement, the city government also closed the roads leading to the barangay. Safety protocols such as mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, and handwashing were also advised to residents.

Before the lockdown, residents were given time to shop for their essentials. During the lockdown period, CHO will also be conducting mass testing among the residents in the barangay. As of writing, Muntinlupa currently has 337 positive cases of COVID-19. 60 are from Barangay Putatan [1].

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that a total of 308 units of modern jeepneys started operations on 15 routes in Metro Manila during the general community quarantine (GCQ).

The first phase of jeepneys that started to operate last June 20 had the following routes:

• Novaliches to Malinta via Paso de Blas

• Bagumbayan Taguig to Pasig via San Joaquin

• Fort Bonifacio Gate 3 to Guadalupe-Market Market-ABC Loop Service

• Pandacan to Leon Guinto

• Quezon Avenue to LRT 5th Avenue Station

• Cubao (Diamond) to Roces Super Palengke

• EDSA Buendia to Mandaluyong City Hall via Jupiter, Rockwell

• Divisoria to Gasak via H. Lopez

• Punta to Quiapo via Sta. Ana

• Boni Pinatubo to Stop and Shop, vice versa

• Boni Robinson’s Complex to Kalentong JRC and vice versa

• Nichols to Vito Cruz

• Filinvest City Loop

• Alabang Town Center (ATC) to Ayala Alabang Village

• Vito Cruz Taft Avenue to PITX Loop Service

Meanwhile, the following nine routes were added last June 24:

• Bagong Silang to SM Fairview

• Malanday to Divisoria via M.H. del Pilar

• Parang, Marikina to Cubao

• Eastwood, Libis to Capitol Commons

• Gasak to Recto via Dagat-dagatan

• PITX to Lawton

• Alabang to Zapote

• PITX to Nichols

• PITX to SM Southmall

Last June 26, another 10 routes were added:

• Quirino Highway - UP Town Center

• SM Fairview - Commonwealth via Regalado Ave.

• QMC Loop

• Tikling to Binangonan

• Antipolo to Pasig via East Bank Road

• Rosario to Pinagbuhatan Pasig

• West Avenue to P. Noval via Del Monte

• Biñan to Balibago via Manila South Road

• Tramo to Sucat

• San Isidro to Congressional Junction Dasmarinas

The modern jeepneys can carry only up to 50% of the passenger capacity due to the strict one-meter social distancing rule among passengers. The minimum fare for air conditioned and non-air conditioned public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be PhP11 for the first four kilometers. Non-air conditioned units will collect PhP1.50 for each succeeding kilometer while air conditioned jeepneys will collect PhP1.80 [2]. Operators would also provide cashless fare collection systems such as Paymaya, Gcash, and Squipay.

The Quezon City local government and delivery service app Lalamove launched their partnership program “Lalajeep” in the second week of June. The program aims to provide a livelihood to jeepney drivers who lost work after the government banned public transportation in Metro Manila.

The Lalajeep service allows businesses to book jeepneys to deliver their goods within the QC area. The base fee is PhP200 with PhP20 per additional per kilometer. Currently, the program has 36 drivers and more will be added soon after the city government screens and assists drivers. Online group training sessions were also conducted for those who were accepted into the program [3].

The first phase of the new bike lane project has started in Quezon City. The first phase of the project, which is targeted for completion by July, began with the repair of existing bike lanes and installation of separation devices [4]. The project aims to provide safer bike lanes for workers who have shifted to cycling as a means of transportation during the GCQ. One of the proposed locations for the bike lanes was Commonwealth Avenue but Mayor Joy Belmonte is waiting for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) approval. The bicycle lanes will also be combined with the planned bus system routes and pedestrian network.

The LTFRB announced on June 21 that more public transportation options will be available in Metro Manila roads by the end of the month. LTFRB said that they are finalizing guidelines for the possible resumption of the operations of UV Express and traditional jeepneys. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said that a technical group is working on providing safety guidelines for transport operators and drivers in order to lessen the spread of COVID-19 in public transportation. Basic health standards such as wearing of face masks and social distancing will be included in the guidelines [5].

The government previously initiated the phase one of the resumption of public transportation in GCQ areas. Under this phase, the following were allowed to operate with strict health protocols: tricycles, bicycles, taxis, P2P bus services, city buses, transport network vehicle services, rail transport, and shuttle services.