The DOTr scraps plastic barrier requirement for public transportation under Alert Level 1

Metro Manila and 38 other places are now under Alert level 1 which is the loosest among all the alert levels. This means that public vehicles can now officially return to their 100 percent passenger capacity. This change comes after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued its Memorandum Circular No. 2022-028 as a new rule on appropriate passenger capacity under alert level 1. 

The memorandum also states that there will be no need for plastic barriers or dividers to be inside vehicles which once acted as an extra barrier of protection for commuters. Aside from this, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also stated that as of February 2022, the LTFRB has already permitted 118,238 operational units of different PUV groups and franchises to play 1,514 total routes in Metro Manila. Tugade also continues by stating that there will be 71 more proposed routes that will be opened with 8,729 more units set to ply these routes by March 15, 2022. 

The LTFRB memorandum also added that intrazonal and interzonal travel between an area under Alert Level 1 and a higher alert level area will be allowed, however, the seating capacity rule will be followed based on the area with the higher alert level.

With the plastic barriers now gone, commuters, and public transportation drivers are now required to use “well-fitted face masks.” This will be strictly enforced, including compliance with the sanitary standards at the transportation terminal following Republic Act No. 11311.

As for areas that are not under Alert Level 1, passenger capacity will remain at 70 percent in compliance with the health and safety protocols.