LTFRB-7 orders air-conditioned PUVs to open windows

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) has ordered the mandatory opening of windows for air-conditioned public utility vehicles as an additional health precaution.

In an order dated August 26, 2020, the agency said the PUV units should open their windows for at least three inches to allow ventilation inside the vehicle.

“After a series of meetings with the representatives of the Local Government Unit of Cebu City and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in line with the health protocol guidelines issued by the Board, [this] Regional Office finds it necessary to augment the same and set guidelines by requiring all [air-conditioned] Public Utility Vehicle (PUV), who has been issued Special Permit (SP) to observe the following guidelines to allow ventilation inside their unit,” LTFRB Regional Office Order Nr: 2020-R7-13.

For taxi cabs, drivers are directed to open the window of their units at least three inches from the top.

For units that have fixed glass windows such as tourist buses, air-conditioned PUBs, and UV Express, the driver’s window and that of the passenger’s side at the front seat should be open three inches wide. Units that do not have fixed glass windows, however, will have to open all the windows for the same width.

The policy, the order said, was effective immediately.

Last August 15, the transportation department has also made mandatory the wearing of face shields for all passengers and drivers of public transport as an additional measure to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

READ: No air con in PUVs to stop COVID-19 spread – gov

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Cebu last March, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had ordered the temporary prohibition of the use of air conditioning units inside all PUVs plying the province. /bmjo