Harsher penalties for PUVs for violating health protocols – Cuenco

The Cebu City Jeepney Task Force continues to conduct inspection on the roadworthiness of jeepneys. | Dyrecka Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Harsher penalties are now imposed on public utility vehicles (PUVs) that will violate the health protocols in Cebu City.

Councilor  James Cuenco said the City Council passed an amendment of the ordinance regulating the policies for community quarantines in the city during their regular session this week.

In a press conference on August 13, 2021, Cuenco revealed that under the amendment, the PUVs would now be required to strictly follow the limited capacity based on the size of the vehicle.

The list of the limited capacity is as follows in the images below:

Furthermore, the amendment states that drivers and dispatchers must wear proper protective equipment including face masks and face shields, although drivers may be exempt from wearing a face shield.

All PUVs must also open their windows or doors to allow natural air ventilation inside the vehicle during transit. Taxis must lower their windows down at a minimum of three inches.

PUVs are not allowed to load passengers who are not wearing face masks and face shields and barriers must be placed inside the vehicle between every passenger seat. After every trip, the PUV must be disinfected.

Buses are required to have a thermal scanner at the entrance to detect those who have fever. Individuals showing symptoms must not be allowed to board the bus.

Operators must also ensure that their drivers and dispatchers must be in good health prior to operating the vehicle.

For those, who will violate these protocols, the first offense will be a citation with a penalty of P1,500, impoundment of vehicle, temporary revocation of transportation identification cards (ID), and short detention for the seminar.

For second-time offenders, the apprehensions will be the same except that the violators will pay a higher penalty of P3,000.

For third-time and multiple offenders, the apprehensions will be much harsher starting with a penalty of P5,000, imprisonment of up to 30 days, and permanent revocation of transportation IDs.

“The amendments will allow our law enforcement to apprehend these violations and issue citation tickets,” said Cuenco.

The police and other deputized agents such as traffic enforcers will begin implementing the harsher penalties as soon as the Executive Order of Acting Mayor Michael Rama is released on August 15, 2021.

Meanwhile, changes on the schedule of the free buses deployed in Cebu City will be adapted following the request of the public utility vehicles (PUVs) for these free services not to compete with them.

The 18 buses will now ply the streets from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., as these are the hours nearest to curfew and even ordinary PUVs are not yet running at these hours.

Outside those hours, the regular PUVs will be the sole public transports plying the streets.

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/dbs