Workers’ health, safety still at risk under MECQ

One of the main differences between modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and the less severe general community quarantine (GCQ) is that public transportation is banned under the former classification.  In the latter, all forms of rail transport (Philippine National Railways, Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit), buses, jeepneys, taxis, pedicabs and UV Expresses, as well as technology and app-based transport network vehicle services such as Grab cars and Angkas motorcycles are already allowed to operate.  With an MECQ status, tricycle drivers are normally prohibited to start working, but the Department of the Interior and Local Government with the local government units can give them discretionary approval.  Despite a certain region being GCQ-classified, the aforementioned vehicles remain forbidden to carry passengers at full capacity for the obvious reason of physical distancing as a health and safety precaution to prevent the contagion and contraction of Covid-19.

In both MECQ and GCQ classifications, private forms of transportation, namely company shuttles, personal vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles and e-scooters can ply the roads.