DOTR urged to include towns near Metro Manila in transport bubble
A neophyte solon is urging the Department of Transportation to include provincial towns around Metro Manila in the discussion of the transportation bubble.
Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles said transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) is also connected to some nearby provinces and towns.
Nograles made the call after the DOTr announced they may consider having a transportation bubble in the NCR as an additional public health measure against COVID-19.
“We cannot forget the fact that thousands of those who work in Metro Manila are residing in nearby provinces. What will happen to them if a transport bubble exclusive to Metro Manila will be implemented? They should not be left behind,” Nograles said.
DOTR Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion discussed the Metro Manila transportation bubble proposal.
“Some factories and establishments in CAMANAVA and Novaliches in Quezon City employ those from Obando, Marilao and Meycauayan. People from Montalban, Antipolo, Cainta, and other Rizal towns work in shops and offices in QC, Marikina and Pasig. Thousands of employees in Makati, Manila and southern NCR reside in the nearby towns of Laguna and Cavite. We are not talking about just a few people here but hundreds of thousands. They are already burdened by the lack of public transportation options and now we will make their life more miserable if we will not consider them in this bubble talk,” the Rizal solon said.
Libiran added that the DOTR and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are studying plans on how to vaccinate more public utility drivers and transport workers.
“This proposal is really good. While we’re at it, I hope they will also consider supporting our proposal to allot sufficient jabs for provincial towns around Metro Manila. If this will be done, they can already shelve their transport bubble proposal without sacrificing our public health objectives,” Nograles pointed out.
